IN New York

What race relations are to Broadway this season (see Fela!, Memphis and Race), homosexuality is to Off-Broadway. While Broadway goes into hibernation in February—the next main-stem opening is The Miracle Worker on March 3—no fewer than four gay-themed plays open or reopen in the next few weeks: The Boys in the Band (Feb. 21), Yank! (Feb. 24), The Temperamentals (Feb. 28) and, as of Feb. 16, The Pride. With Next Fall, which preemed Off-Broadway last year scheduled to make its Great White Way debut on March 11, and La Cage aux Folles nipping at its heels (Previews begin April 6), New York theatre has never been gayer. But to be serious, put these plays together and you (gay, straight, whatever) have as entertaining, informative and moving a primer of gay life in the last 70 or so years as you are ever likely to get.


First out of the box, Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride. What a revelation: an intelligent, heartbreaking, uplifting time-travel play that crisscrosses British mores and morals between 1958 and 2008, from stiff upper lip to let it all hang out. The cast is flawless under Joe Mantello’s sensitive direction, so kudos to Brits Hugh Dancy, Andrea Riseborough and Adam James. As to Ben Whishaw, who must tip the scales at all of 90 pounds, he is obviously the heavyweight here and heir apparent to Ian McKellen. Catch him now and you’ll be able to say, “I saw him way back when …”


Next on my agenda is—what else but?—The Boys in the Band. Can’t wait.


See you on the aisle.