Grown-Up ‘Boys’

A lot has happened since Mart Crowley’s groundbreaking gay serio-comedy “The Boys in the Band” premiered in 1968. We’ve seen the gradual successes of the Gay Lib movement and the devastation of AIDS, while the gay self-loathing that’s a central theme of the play, has moved, at least partially, toward more positive outlook.

Accepting the fact that it is a period piece, it’s still a very good play and was notable for helping open theatrical doors to discussion of the subject onstage.

It isn’t done very often these days, and a revival at Irvine Community Theater gives audiences a chance to see a historically significant work that’s still worth taking seriously.

The action involves a birthday party for late-arriving Harold. While the eight boys in this particular band are waiting for him, they examine their lives, their attitudes, their relationships and generally what each believes to be the cause of his unhappiness at being gay.

The play works best when Crowley isn’t on a soapbox. When he is, it’s inclined to drag in this production, under Marc LeBlanc’s respectful direction. LeBlanc gives too much emphasis to the confessional, particularly in the first act, instead of the comedic. Lines that should be funny are inclined not to be.

Things pick up a good bit in the second act, and in LeBlanc’s staging, when a violent explosion of homophobia by the host’s straight ex-college roommate trips an emotional switch in each guest.

This production’s best moment is the searing breakdown of host Michael’s bravado, when an inner self-destructive force momentarily shatters him. Mark Torreso as Michael and Mike Rizzo as his sometime lover Donald have an electricity at this moment that is missing earlier.

The play’s strength is the juxtaposition of comedy to drama, with instantaneous switches from one to the other. This cast, though it is very good throughout, hasn’t caught the trick of pulling this off.

Without going too far into stereotype, David Cramer gives a nice flavor to the effeminate Emory, who causes the whole evening to disintegrate. Da’Mon Jackson as his friend Bernard gives a nice sensitive edge to his character, especially in Act II, playing Michael’s vicious party game. Bill Gorin and Drew Johnson are fine as lovers finding themselves and each other.

Ron McCoy, as the uptight preppy lawyer whose homophobia is tearing him apart inside, gives an honestly restrained performance until his explosion, which he handles also with admirable control. Mark Catena’s reticence works well for Harold, the bitter, lonely birthday boy. The pretty hustler who is one of his birthday gifts is played with often very funny obtuseness by Paul Lekakis.

BE THERE

“The Boys in the Band,” Irvine Community Theater, Turtle Rock Community Park. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $10. Ends Saturday. (949) 857-5496. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.