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"Beebo Brinker" Comes to Off BroadwayIn their work, Chapman, Ryan and Silverman have instead embraced lesbian subject matter. "I think you work on the stuff that moves you, first and foremost, as an artist," said Chapman. "You try to express something. Whatever it was in this material that we were touched by, we felt that this was a story that people needed to see. It's hard to convince people why they need to see an adaptation of a pulp [novel] from the '50s and make them feel that it's going to ring true today. And I think that that's the beauty of the play and the strength of the play is that it feels so immediate, and so current."
Silverman said she feels one of the responsibilities of lesbian artists is to depict lesbian stories authentically, in a way that will engage and attract non-gay audiences as well: "It's our job as people who make art to open the door so that people can find a way in, while holding on to the integrity of our content." The self-produced showcase production of Beebo opened last fall with a bang: rave reviews and a totally sold-out run. The line of theatergoers hoping for a ticket cancellation was out the door. On the final night of the four-week run, lesbian producer Harriet Levy saw the play, fell in love with it, and offered to move the production Off Broadway. "To just think that a play like this, which felt like it could so easily stay in the lesbian ghetto, could have as big of a life as it did downtown and then transcend to a commercial run — it gives me so much hope, it really does," said Silverman.
The Beebo Brinker Chronicles is just the first of what the three creators hope will be many lesbian literary adaptations. Chapman and Ryan promise they have a long list of lesbian novels they want to adapt, although Ryan added that whatever they write next will probably have just as long and hard a road to production as Beebo has had. While the future of lesbian theater depends on mainstream audiences, it also requires the lesbian community to actually buy tickets and go to a show. The success of lesbian-themed theater will build on itself, until lesbian writers and directors have David Mamet-level clout, creating a world where the rare lesbian theater production can thrive. Only then, said Ryan, will we get "the next lesbian Terrence McNally," a gay playwright with gay and straight Broadway credits galore. Meanwhile, an uncompromised, emotional, distinctly lesbian story is happening onstage eight times a week over at 37 Arts. If lesbian and mainstream audiences continue to support the show, The Beebo Brinker Chronicles will extend its 10-week run, hopefully for a long time to come. The Beebo Brinker Chronicles runs through April 27, 2008, at 37 Arts. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the 37 Arts box office.
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Great article
Now that was a quality piece of writing. I missed the Chronicles first time around, so I'm delighted to hear it's getting a second run. Judging by the fact that the books were sitting in prime position in most bookshops (including mainstream) when it was running first time around, I'm guessing it did get pretty good audiences.
The other one I didn't get to recently but wish I had was the "live" lesbian soap opera that Theater of the Two Headed Calf (I think) put on at Here! for a couple of weeks (again, I think). Did anyone see it/hear how it went? I saw their Winds of the Drums of Hirohawa (or however you spell it) over fall and thought it was the best piece of theater I've ever seen.
And yeah, isn't it interesting that the lesbian piece written by a man goes straight to Broadway. Mind you, I love David Mamet, so I can't really begrudge him the success...
Love Pussy xx
Great review
Love the depth of the article and the extent of the interviews with three out women AND all the photos... all of which make me wish I could see the play.
Also, I'd say Ann Bannon is great, but I really hope someone out there is now writing a lesbian novel set in today's world that we'll be seeing on stage in the years to come.
This was a...
Fantastic article! I felt like the entire piece was crackling with chemistry, particularly the bit when the authors are finishing each other's sentences. The writing is great and the picture choices seem perfect. Thanks for this.
So that's the new Beebo? Wow.
Great Article
Makes me wish I still lived in NYC and could see this. I lost track of where I was while reading and felt as though I was reading a New Yorker or Time Mag review. Substantive. It's great to see some of that on this site from time to time. This is much more significant overall than most of what is happening on tv, e.g., currently. Thank you so much for keeping us informed.
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Fab
Hope it expands past NYC!
Cute Q&A with Jenn Colella here
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/115153.html
She claims that Hilary Swank should play Beebo in the film, if she doesn't get the part. How cool would a film adaptation of this play be? Very!
--abzug
Visit http://www.badgirlsannex.com!
Actually...
Doh!
Yeah, your interpretation makes a LOT more sense. I guess I got distracted by the idea of a film adaptation of the play, and Hilary Swank as Beebo! Must work on reading comprehension....
--abzug
Visit http://www.badgirlsannex.com!
Fantastic Show
I saw this last night at the 47 Arts Theater and was blown away. The actors all have amazing talent and the storytelling was intense. The set was minimal but was transformed in every scene. I laughed and cried and thought about how I wish I could be an actor because I wish I could make people feel the way the cast made me feel. I would recommend anyone in the NYC area that likes theater to check it out.
"Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there"
I saw the show last night, too
I really enjoyed the show, and we brought a few gay men with us who laughed their asses off. A surprising thing happens during the show: there are moments of melodrama where you feel you are afraid to laugh because it is too true, and it get's quiet...the someone howls and you realize, "oh yeah...this is in the past and no one really acts like that anymore: it's a comedy." The direction is delightful: the timing is terrific. I hope it runs through June so that lesbians visiting for Pride will get a chance to see it. My male friends thought that it would be funny if it was done in drag, so go, girls, to the real theatre and see it before some big ol' drag queens buy it up and take over these roles.
my favorite line: the busty babe waves her 44D's in Beebo's face and says "I need some chips!" and stomps off to the kitchen during her anniversary party, with Beebo in hot pursuit.
lavillas
Beebo Brinker