Confessional-Style ‘Virgins’ Cries Out

In the remarkably candid “Virgins and Other Myths” at Theatre Geo, Colin Martin employs the format of the autobiographical one-person show as a private confessional to examine his personal psychosexual history in minute detail, from his earliest homosexual longings onward.

The result is risky, raw, frequently funny and at times harrowing. Despite the painfully frank nature of his material, Martin never lapses into sensationalism or self-caricature.

With great charm and a dancer’s grace, Martin lures us along the path of his sexual odyssey, from all-American teen to jaded New York City hustler. Every step of the way, director Bruce Blair shows great sensitivity for Martin’s material.

The first act closes with the rape of the 15-year-old Martin by a man he meets in a movie theater. The pantomimic assault is performed in lyric slow motion to sweeping music, an ironic staging that emphasizes the sheer brutality of the crime. The assaults, both psychic and physical, continue. An adored high school teacher turns out to be yet another would-be seducer. An early misdiagnosis of AIDS and subsequent sexual addiction leave Martin on the ropes.

Yet Martin’s show is not just an episodic narration of traumas and peccadilloes past. At the evening’s shocking close, the reminiscences coalesce into the piteous outcry of a sexually abused child--a cry that can never be forgotten.

* “Virgins and Other Myths,” Theatre Geo, 1229 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Ends Oct. 18. $12. (213) 466-1767. Running time: 1 hour, 55 minutes.

‘Beachwood’ Cast Gutsy at Tamarind

It isn’t fair to judge “Beachwood Palace Jubilee” at the Tamarind on the basis of one performance. The cast and material change weekly in this potluck showcase, which consists primarily of comedy sketches, with a little song and dance thrown in.

The evening this reviewer attended, Barry Saltzman--playing regular host Ademola Olugebefola--failed to hold the proceedings together. The show was overlong and the laughs were intermittent, except for those bombastic and interruptive responses of the performers’ offstage pals.

However, it’s an ambitious program, and those involved have to be awarded points for sheer audacity. If you are interested in seeing gutsy young performers working without a net, all for the ticket price of about $3, then this could be the show for you.

* “Beachwood Palace Jubilee,” Tamarind, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. Tonight only, 11 p.m. Opens next Friday at the Hudson, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Fridays only, 11 p.m. Ends Oct. 21. $3-$3.99. No reservations necessary. Running time: About two hours.