(Not Quite) Out to Pasture: Life Among the Outlaws

By Curtis Comer

For anyone, gay or straight, meeting the family of your significant other can be a daunting experience. Not only do you worry that you’ll fail to make a good impression, but you’re aware, too, that you’re being judged like a prize bull at the state fair. The experience can be harrowing, to say the least.

WHAT A PIECE OF WORK WAS JACK: Barrymore at Avalon Theatre

By: Andrea Braun, Theatre Arts Correspondent

Legend has it that when John Barrymore died, his friends, including actor Errol Flynn and director Raoul Walsh gathered in a bar to mark the occasion.  Walsh left, and with the help of a couple of co-conspirators, stole Barrymore’s still un-embalmed body from the funeral home, took it to Errol Flynn’s house, and propped it up in a chair. When Flynn came home, he was extremely drunk, but sobered up quickly in terror as he saw “Jack” sitting right there. He claimed to have screamed his head off, and even when he learned it was a joke, was unable to sleep all that night.

Is this story true? Who knows? It’s about the only one John Contini didn’t tell among the outrageous statements and actions attributed to Barrymore during his very large life. Of course, he couldn’t have related it, since the play takes place in 1942, one month before “The Great Profile’s” death at 60. He lived fast, and he died young, but it was too late to leave a good looking corpse. He remains vain to the end, however, since he seeks reassurance from the prompter (Scott McMasters as “Frank,” unseen but heard throughout the show) he has hired to help him prepare for a comeback as Richard III. “I don’t look middle-aged, do I?” Barrymore asks. “Not anymore, sir,” Frank says flatly.

Pridefest: More Than A Parade

By: Colin Murphy – Senior Writer

As the rainbow flags and bunting go up along Grand at Tower Grove Park, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and allied community prepares for its biggest weekend of the year—St. Louis Pridefest, June 27-28.

The annual event, which is produced by Pride St. Louis, celebrates 30-years in the Gateway City and the buzz surrounding the destination event is palpable.

Sandra Bernhard Struts@Pridefest 

By COREY STULCE

On the big screen she’s been covered in melted gold, served trash to Muppet grouches and had nice dreams with Cheech and Chong.

Don’t recall her film roles in "Hudson Hawk" "Sesame Street Presents Follow that Bird" and a C&C dope-fest?

Well that’s because Sandy Bernhard is much better known as a lady of the night, under a spotlight, beaming back nuggets of fashion, politics and the culture of pop with a hilarious, shocking genius flair.

(Not Quite) Out to Pasture: Hair Apparent

By: Curtis Comer

"Look at this!" exclaimed Tim, outrage on his face.

The tiny item grasped between his forefinger and thumb was nearly invisible to the naked eye, but was so offensive it might as well have been a poisonous viper.

Another gray hair.

For a while now, offending gray hairs have been creeping into Tim’s hairline and causing him great distress. I, too, have noticed that, for at least the last two years, gray hairs have invaded my temples like marauding hordes from the Far East. Worse, now I’m forced to shave every morning because of the gray hairs that have sprouted up among the naturally brown hair on my chin. Where I once would have skipped a day "just because" now I’m forced to shave every morning or risk looking like some sort of parody of a depression- era hobo.

DIVAS ON THE DOLE: WAITING IN THE WINGS

Written by Andrea Braun, Theatre Arts Correspondent

This is a good month to see lesser known works by well known playwrights: The Albee plays (Everything in the Garden closed last weekend at Stray Dog; The Lady from Dubuque is currently running at Muddy Waters) and now Act Inc’s summer repertory season includes Heroes (trans. By Tom Stoppard) and Waiting in the Wings by Noel Coward, which opened last night. "Wings" is an old-fashioned three-act butt numb-er, but it has good performances, some of Coward’s trademark sparkling dialogue, and an interesting setting to recommend it.

By Andrea Braun, Theatre Arts Correspondent

The above is a very brief definition of what a dramaturg may (or may not) do during the production of a play. First, there is the matter of the term itself. Both "dramaturg" and "dramaturge" are used interchangeably, though the practice itself is "dramaturgy" (hard "g"). A playwright may also be called a "dramaturg." So can a translator, a scholar, a theatrical historian, or someone who gets the director’s coffee while offering an opinion about blocking a scene. Confused yet? Yeah, me too, but it says in the playbill that I am the "Dramaturg" for The Lady from Dubuque, now playing at the Kranzberg Arts Center by Muddy Waters Theatre Company. I thought Vital Voice readers might enjoy a backstage look at the process of putting on a show.

Editor's Note:

Another Monday, another thought provoking column by resident Vital Voice columnist Curtis Comer.  Please come back every Monday for another tall helping of Mr. Comer.

--Lucas Hudson 

(Not Quite) Out to Pasture: Baby Talk

By Curtis Comer

A friend recently informed us that his girlfriend of six months is pregnant and, while she insists that she supports a woman’s right to choose, has decided to keep the baby. Our first question to our friend wasn’t whether or not he intended to marry his girlfriend.

"Dude, weren’t you using a condom?"

LAND OF THE LOST

By: Lee Rice

Although it has a few funny moments, the laughs are few and far between in ‘Land of the Lost,’ the new, comedic adaptation of a popular 1970’s television series.

The basic premise remains the same, people fall through a time portal, get stuck in a pocket dimension filled with people and objects from the past, present and future, and adventure ensues.

Sage Visionary Awards

Lucas Hudson

In celebration of its first anniversary, SAGE is honoring leaders in the LGBT community both young and old for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Some highlights include awards to PROMO executive director AJ Bockelman, long time PFLAG president Dean Rosen, playwright/director Joan Lipkin, Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford and activist Scott Emmanuel as well as posthumous awards to Lisa Wagaman, Totty Dunham, Bill Cordes, Joyce Trebilcot