Steve
Off - Broadway at The Pershing Square Signature Center

 

Mario Cantone is once again making us laugh in this fun and moving story about gay life in 2015.  His real life husband, Jerry Dixon is playing his partner for some added fun, and while not a musical, you will get  your fill of live Broadway show tunes from the moment you enter the theatre.

Steve deals with the very new subject of same sex marriage, gay parenting, throuples and the age old subject of mortality. The cast consists of five friends.  Two gay couples and one Lesbian who happens to be dying of cancer.  I know you won’t believe me when I tell you this is a comedy, but it can’t be helped with this comedic cast of characters.

Stephen (Malcolm Gets) and Steven (Matt McGrath) are married and have a son Zack.   During a birthday celebration it is revealed that Stephen has been virtually cheating with Jerry via sext messages.   Steven runs off with a waiter Esteban (Francisco Pryor Garat) out of anger/revenge. In case you did not know, Estaban is Spanish for Stephen for more comic twist. Matt (Mario Cantone) & Brian (Jerry Dixon) have had their sexy young trainer move in with them and it’s more than just a living arrangement.  When Carrie (Ashlie Atkinson) needs a place to go to convalesce (this is a nice term for die) it’s revealed that both of the spare rooms are filled.  Steven has moved into their spare room and three’s a crowd over at Matt & Jerry’s.  Things get more serious as Carrie deteriorates but it’s  done very peacefully and you may just get the feeling that it’s just saying goodbye to a friend until the next time.   The friends are all joined together in Fire Island at the close.  The four boys and Carrie in her urn.  It’s time to say goodbye to one life and hello to a starting over.

Relative newcomber Mark Gerrard is a playwright to watch and Cynthia Nixon gets credit for bringing life to this wonderfully silly and heartfelt production, along with this accomplished cast.  The set (Allen Moyer) cleverly changes from cabaret, to restaurant, to living room, as a  piano, banquettes, counters, couches and Christmas tree (trimmed with  what else but photos of Liza, Chita and Angela Lansbury to name a few) move on and off the stage.   There is also some effective use of technology, when there are several conversations taking place via text and telephone by multiple characters and a large screen is used to display the text messages.  It’s very funny, because we can all relate to how ridiculous we sometimes are with modern technology and we just have to laugh at ourselves.

Steve will leave you smiling and happy and what better segue into the New Year?  You only have until January 3, so don’t delay.  For tickets and more information visit http://www.thenewgroup.org/steve.html and  you can check for available discounts here

-ThisbroadSway 11/22/15