Here’s why Harvey Fierstein’s latest play—full of camp and cross-dressing—is worth seeing
Casa Valentina is at the Calderwood Pavilion this month.
Harvey Fierstein has been writing LGBT characters for decades. In the SpeakEasy Stage Company’s New England premiere of the 2014 Tony nominee Casa Valentina, Fierstein focuses on a group of cross-dressing men who gather at a Catskills getaway in 1962.
Should you see it or skip it? Here are the five best arguments on either side.
See it!
Do you like high camp? If so, Casa Valentina has some moments you’ll enjoy. One of the characters quotes Oscar Wilde to good effect and jokes about his cross-dressing in a familiar, flamboyant way. Not every joke lands, and you shouldn’t go in expecting a beginning-to-end comedy. About 20 minutes in, the comedy pretty much ends.
See it!
Casa Valentina is timely. This week, voters in Houston repealed an ordinance protecting the transgender community. Those who wanted it repealed wore shirts that read, for example, “NO Men in Women’s Bathrooms.’’ Public bathroom usage is briefly discussed Casa Valentina, with one of the characters noting that limiting liquids seems to be the only practical strategy when public bathrooms are the only option.
See it!
There are moments in Casa Valentina that are joyful and touching. When Jonathon/Miranda, a first-timer at the resort, gets a makeover from the other “girls,’’ you understand the longing for this moment. You want Jonathon/Miranda to savor the little time this character will have to feel feminine and pretty.
See it!
Casa Valentina is an excellent reminder of how arbitrary hatred by one group of another really is. The leaders of the cross-dressing community at the resort believe they need to announce their disapproval of homosexuality. One of the group’s leaders despises gay men and believes that his peers are marginalized because the world thinks they are gay. He describes homosexuals in virulent and hateful terms. The absurdity of this way of thinking is displayed beautifully in Casa Valentina. The characters aren’t easily classified as gay or straight, trans or not. And if you can’t think of people as part of an identifiable group, it’s hard to find direction for your hate.
Skip it!
This isn’t the strongest cast. During the comedic portions, many of the punch lines fall flat. Some of the vitriol is delivered in a way that feels cartoonishly evil. This isn’t to say that there are big problems or failures from the actors. But you do leave with a feeling that this could have been a better overall experience.
The Verdict: SEE IT!
Casa Valentina will be at the Calderwood Pavilion through November 28.
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