by
Mark Dunn
Midsumma Festival
at David Williamson Theatre until Feb, 2000
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Mark Dunn is a very clever playwright. His short plays
cunningly address issues surrounding homosexuality in our presumably tolerant
society.
Judy Garland Slept Here is the more sophisticated of the two
plays in this program, which is part of the Midsumma Festival. Surprising
events take place in Blythe Corners, a small town somewhere in the profoundly
conservative and hypocritically religious southern states of America.
The premise is hilarious. All the men in town are suddenly
coming out of the closet. All admit to being kissed by Judy Garland immediately
before their first homo-erotic tingling. It had to be Judy who kissed them. No
other Hollywood star has quite the same gay icon status.
Dunn has crafted the narrative skilfully. It is a satirical
social commentary disguised as fluff. The denouement arising out of the bizarre
story, is credible and carries a clear message. Dunn is committed to informing
the broader community and shattering gay stereotypes. He is not telling us all
to come out.
The second play is a meringue after the main course but,
nonetheless, makes a clear point about gay male behaviour. Four anxious and
under-confident gay men want to protest the closure of a nude gay beach but are
too coy, closeted or embarrassed to march naked through the streets.
Their journey to confident, full-frontal nudity in the
privacy of an apartment is a journey towards understanding that not all gay men
are pretty exhibitionists with tight bottoms and sleek pecs. The gay club world
makes these men invisible and insecure because they do not fit the cover-boy
image. Sound familiar?
The performances are uneven in quality but the plays are no
less enjoyable. Director, William Prior, (OK) has kept the pace swift and the
characters broad. It is a pity he did not transpose the stories to Australia.
Christopher White (is versatile as the interviewer in Judy
Garland and the geek in Full Frontal. Peter Montgomery has fun with multiple
roles in Judy, particularly the motel owner, Duke. Sean Ladhams is entertaining
and credible as the "outed" town copper.
It is a relief to see some strong writing in the Midsumma
Festival which addresses more than the drag shows or innuendo-ridden comedy which
often flood the gay entertainment scene.
by Kate Herbert
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