Was Abraham Lincoln Gay? Some Say Yes

CONNECTIONS: Theater, Plays, SF playhouse, Aaron Loeb, Bill English, Chris Smith, Michael Phillis, Velina Brown, Lorraine Olsen, Sarah Mitchell, Joe Kady, Mark Anderson Phillips, Brian Degan Scott, Theater reviews.  

WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN GAY? Some historians say yes!

Abraham Lincoln’s Big Gay Dance Party is – “well hung.”

This World Premiere at the San Francisco Playhouse is what Theater should be. Political Junkies (like me) will bounce right off the walls with laughter. Everything happens during this outrageous comedy/drama. It’s Theatre of the absurd wrapped around sexual innuendo about homosexuality, gossip, and corrupt politicians. Sounds just like today, don’t it?

The energy in this play is just enormous. The action never stops. There is dancing, Song snippets that include music from “Chorus Line” and other Broadway Blockbusters. There is a trial in a County courtroom against a teacher.  A Reagan type Senator who has fallen from Grace, is trying to get back into the political ring. And guess what? He wants the governor’s chair. And that is why he is trying to prosecute the Third-grade teacher who let the kids include in their Xmas pageant, the story that Big Abe had a man friend (Joshua Speed) who he loved, and slept with.

There are three parts to this play. At the Beginning the audience is asked which part of the show that want to see first. In other words, you pick the beginning and the ending. It might be interesting to see it again, to see if the sequence makes any difference.

The Bill English set, as usual is more than intriguing – it is fantastic. There are three huge moveable flats with Warhol type pictures of Abraham Lincoln. By slick and clever stage movements the set becomes many locations from a Pie Shop, a courtroom and other locations. When asked what kind of Pie is good today – the clerk says: “Well, we have Ronnie Reagan Rhubarb and of course the favorite today is Abraham Lincolnberry.” Have a little Lincoln? Apparently someone was!

The language is perky. Here are a couple of samples: “I’m known as big thing” – “Her mouth is like a mousetrap” and about Lincoln’s love affair with Joshua – “He used to do it to him with his mouth.” Here is one of my favorites – “He had the occasional LOG in his Cabin.”  Now, these can be interpreted many ways – but I’m sure that you will come to the same conclusion that I did.

This whirlwind evening even offers dancing that takes on Ballroom to Salsa. It’s just fantastic. “One of the Best plays I’ve ever seen!”  You must sleep with Lincoln – err, I mean see it! It’s a Laugh-Out-Loud Epic TAIL, and I do mean tail! It’s Hip and Fun and pertinent to today. And like all politics it’s a delicious story about betrayal and revenge.

HERE ARE THE GREAT PERFORMERS IN THIS MASTERPIECE:  STARRING…
Velina Brown skips from character to character – “She’s a Firestorm!” Lorraine Olsen – “Amazing Actor!” Michael Phillis – “He’s done it again – topped his last performance. What a natural actor. One of the Best!” Mark Anderson Phillips – “Another Great performance!” Brian Degan Scott – “Reinvents Acting. Terrific!” Joe Kady – “Just perfect!” Sarah Mitchell – “Hugely impressive!”  

THEN THERE IS CHRIS SMITH THE DIRECTOR that guides this extraordinary spaceship to a simply divine landing. What a great job.

The Choreography by Kimberly Richards and Tom Segal is Swell-A-Gant!  But, of course none of this would have taken place without the exploding talent of the author Aaron Loeb.

AT THE SF PLAYHOUSE

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) – trademarked-

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BREAKING NEWS!  IT HAS JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT GABRIEL MARIN HAS RECEIVED THE "FAME AWARD" FOR BEST ACTOR IN THE PLAY 'BUG' THAT COMPLETELY SOLD OUT AT THE SF PLAYHOUSE. MARIN WAS THRILLED TO RECEIVE THE LEE HARTGRAVE FAME AWARD THAT IS GIVEN SPARINGLY TO ACTORS, PLAYWRIGHTS AND OTHER ENTERTAINERS. To see former Winners! -- Google Lee Hartgrave Fame Awards.