2016 Capital Fringe Review: ‘The DOMA Diaries’

Thrilling progressive history and the trajectory of societal forces colliding with basic human rights is delineated through the prism of three couples who are fighting for their dignity as LGBTQ individuals in the current offering, The DOMA Diaries, now being presented as part of the FRINGE Festival.

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Playwright and Director Kevin Michael West perfectly conveys the thwarted frustrations, fervent idealism, pathos and —above all—perseverance and survival instincts of three couples who struggle onwards in life and, even, death. Mr. West is a master at conveying the paradox which is the crux of the LGBTQ community and individual. That paradox is that there are no easy answers in the struggles of life and that complex human emotions do not often fall easily into place when such reactionary laws as DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) are put into motion. (President Clinton signed this bill into law in September 1996).

This pernicious law’s dire consequences for the LGBTQ community are portrayed superbly and incisively in this play and it superbly shows the finesse and polish of West’s writing. Nothing in this full-length play (presented in a single act) seems forced, didactic or contrived. Mr. West, rather, writes with a very natural, humanistic tone even while covering a very broad swath of propositions, laws revoked, and discrimination enforced during the period of 1991 to 2013 in America. It is not an easy task to write with such subtlety when focusing on polarizing themes but Mr. West succeeds admirably,

Actor Steven Wolf’s comment that “Kevin’s script is a perfect balance of thought provocation and entertainment …….” totally captures the tone of this fine play.

A cast of six talented actors (including Mr. Wolf) vividly etch the myriad problems and complications that ensue when legalistic realities collide with idealism. Undercurrents of humor such as using gigantic hand puppets to represent the lesbian couple’s children, mocking pious platitudes, having the actors slip into multiple roles at unexpected moments and quirkily engaging musical passages between the scenes all certainly help to lighten the mood of this serious play.

West wisely trusts his instincts to make his play offer glimmers of light in the face of so much horror and dehumanizing despair that his characters must endure. (The recent Orlando massacre must be on so many people’s minds).

The gay male relationship portrayed in the play (a Russian –accented Garrett Matthews and a robustly passionate Christian Rohde) is heartbreakingly portrayed —-albeit with a hopeful ending. Mr. Matthews’ character (Oliver) is in the U.S. on a foreign Visa and is in a serious relationship with Mr. Rohde’s character (Red). Matthews and Rohde play their roles to the hilt from the impetuousness of their first meeting to their quest to stay together in the U.S. as a married couple even in the face of differing states’ marriage and domestic partnership laws. Their interactions are a delight to watch. Particularly amusing is a scene of a fantasy world gone wild where everyone and everything is Gay-oriented. The Gay male relationship portrayed here is largely based on events that Playwright West endured with his partner.

Renee Erichsen-Teal portrays the character of Janice in the second coupling which is a lesbian relationship (complete with children) with her partner Sophie (actress Nell Quinn-Gibney). Playwright West writes with complexity about the hurdles and obstacles such a couple must face when they are faced with losing their children and denied the chance to marry.  The impending onslaught of sickness and consequent health insurance rights is devastatingly portrayed by Erichsen-Teal. Directorial kudos must be given to West for directing these two engaging actresses so precisely in order to convey the seemingly antagonistic quarreling –that is only truly known to be affectionate and loving bickering by the actual participants.

The third couple consists of the immensely versatile and powerfully Joy Gerst (who portrays the character of Audrey) –Gerst draws the audience into the proceedings in the opening scene as she laments over the grave of her lesbian partner of 46 years, Diane. Ms. Gerst moved me to tears as she expressed her sorrow over the fact that she would not be allowed to be buried next to her partner. Gerst reprised a variation on this scene later in the play and was totally mesmerizing as she cried in torment over being discriminated against in both life and death. Ms. Gerst also portrayed several other characters and was totally enthralling in her command of every nuance of expression.

Steven Wolf who played George was also a standout. Mr. Wolf also played a kindhearted war veteran, a bigoted Texan, and a Father with authoritative aplomb.

The cast of 'DOMA Diaries.' Photo by Steven Wolf.
The cast of ‘The DOMA Diaries.’ Photo by Steven Wolf.

The eventual and hard-fought success of overturning DOMA and allowing the Gay community to marry has offered so many new possibilities and Mr. West’s play brings this out successfully in the conclusion.

Spare but functionally effective Set Piece Construction by Christian Rohde and eye-catching Costumes by Greg Stevens must be mentioned.

For a provocative, well-written and well-acted theatrical experience regarding the inter-connection of the legal system with the human experience, do not miss The DOMA Diaries!

Running Time: 85 minutes, with no intermission.

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The DOMA Diaries is playing through Saturday, July 23, 2016  at The Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint – 916 G Street, NW, in Washington, DC. For tickets call (866) 811-4111, or purchase them online.

LINKS:
Check other reviews and show previews on DCMetroTheaterArts’ 2016 Capital Fringe Page.

Read the preview article for ‘The DOMA Diaries’ by Kevin Michael West.

RATING: FIVE-STARS-82x1551.gif BEST OF THE CAPITAL FRINGE!

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David Friscic
David has always had a passionate interest in the arts from acting in professional dinner theatre and community theatre to reviewing film and local theatre in college to making numerous treks to New York City to indulge his interest in live theatre. An enthusiastic interest in writing has shown itself in a BA in English/Education and an MA in English Literature. Taken together, these two interests have culminated in the logical conclusion of writing for an arts blog. David moved up and down the East Coast due to his father's job at General Electric and this has helped him to perceive the world in a very open way. After his schooling, David taught in Catholic school systems for awhile and, then, spent three years in the seminary with two years at Catholic University studying Theology and one year in a practicuum working at a church in New York State. David currently works at the National Science Foundation as a Technical Information Specialist for the Office of Polar Programs and has had the great opportunity to go to Antarctica twice and Greenland once in support of the research community. He enjoys living in Bethesda and has taken courses at the Writer's Center. David enjoys swimming, traveling, reading, and working on committees at his condo. His major interest, however, is the arts and all it encompasses---from symphony, to film, to museum treks to live theatre. He counts having lunch with Lillian Gish and meeting Lily Tomlin, Geraldine Page, Maureen Stapleton, Liza Minnelli and Sandy Dennis as some of the more exciting encounters of his life.

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