It is a backyard of neighboring South Philly row houses. In one lives Fran Geminiani and his son, Francis, a student at Harvard. Bunny Weinberger and her son, Herschel, who seems to be on the spectrum of autism, live in the attached home and share the backyard. Both Fran and Bunny are single parents, each having been left by his or her spouse. But the core of the story revolves around their kids and the two classmates of Francis who pay a surprise visit on the eve of Francis’ 21st birthday. The relationships amongst all are quite complicated in this play that opened off-Broadway in New York in 1976 before moving to Broadway where it ran for over three years. EgoPo is bringing the play home to Philly where Playwright Albert Innaurato grew up.
Early on,, we meet Fran (Johnny Fernandez) who is treating his son Francis (Tommy Sullivan-Lovett), home for the summer from college, as a child. He is loud, he is pushy, he is obnoxious- but Francis seems to take it. He has other things on his mind. Then, two friends, Randy (Kohl Hastings) and Judith (Eliza Waterman), a brother and sister who he has known since childhood and who attend Harvard and Radcliffe, arrive unexpectedly, planning to tent in the backyard. They meet the neighbor, and Bunny, greets them, placing a kiss on the lips of Randy. She is constantly flaunting her sexuality in a most raucous manner. She acts as though she would sleep with anyone.
Fran has his lady friend Lucille (Annette Kaplafka), a widow who lives nearby and puts up with him because she thinks she can do no better at this stage of her life. When I read reviews of the Broadway production, I saw that this was so successful because of its groundbreaking discussion of homosexuality. Francis isn’t sure what he is. He hasn’t come out to anyone. He even had a bit of an intimate connection with Judith. She clearly loves him. But does he love her or would he prefer her brother, Randy? And what is the difference between loving someone and liking them?
It’s both a simple and a complex script and I can see why it was such a hit on Broadway. In EgoPo’s production, I thought the younger actors did an outstanding job in relating the confusing emotions they were juggling. I did find the over-the-top portrayals of Fran and Bunny a bit too much and I zoned out a few times as I did with Penelope’s fast talking that made it often challenging to understand what she was saying. But it’s still a play I would recommend for its sensitive perspectives on relationships and the confusion of what it meant to be gay during the 70’s.
“Gemini” by Albert Innauratoat EgoPo Theater, being performed at Theatre Exile, 1340 S. 13th Street,, Philadelphia, PA , 267-273-1414, www.egopo.org Thru February 15,, 2026
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 