Happy Birthday Doug

C-

Drew Droege’s previous one-man show, Bright Colors and Bold Patterns, was a very funny look at the perils of gay assimilation seen through the eyes of a guest at a same-sex wedding in Palm Springs. Its humor was not just funny but anchored in social commentary, which might explain how it became a New York Times Critic’s Pick. Unfortunately, his new show, now at SoHo Playhouse, is totally devoid of any social significance, consisting solely of a series of impersonations of guests at a 41st birthday party held in the private room of a Los Angeles wine bar. The guests all seem to be related to the entertainment industry so there are “in” jokes aplenty. A guest named Christopher refers to his absent partner Don, suggesting a tie to Isherwood and Bachardy which was confusing because Isherwood died in 1986. Another guest is the ghost of Oscar Wilde, whose presence does not add wit. While Droege is a talented performer, the writing lacks focus here. The only overarching theme seems to be bitchiness. Tom Detrinis directed. Most of the audience seemed to be having a wonderful time. I was not. Running time: 55 minutes.

Bright Colors and Bold Patterns

B

If you don’t like gay-themed plays or one-person shows or are offended by rough language, drinking and drug taking, you can stop reading here. This play is not for you. If you’re still with me, you might enjoy this piece, which was a Times Critic's Pick when it ran very briefly at Barrow St. Theatre last year and is now having an encore run at Soho Playhouse. Drew Droege, who wrote and performs the work, plays Gerry, a bitchy 40-ish gay man in Palm Springs for the weekend to attend the wedding of his friend Josh to Brennan, a dull man he detests. Gerry is sharing a house with his former roommate Dwayne, Dwayne’s young new boyfriend Mack, whom he has not previously met, and Dwayne’s old boyfriend Neil, whom he loathes. We never actually see the three housemates, but Gerry converses with them so convincingly that they are vivid presences. For the first hour of the play, Gerry’s motormouth, fueled by booze and coke, is on a nonstop rant. Among his many grievances is the notation on the wedding invitation not to wear bright colors or bold patterns as if it were part of a larger campaign to stamp out gay culture. During the last 20 minutes, Gerry finally slows down and becomes more contemplative. He expresses the fear that greater acceptance of gays may bring with it greater pressure for conformity. The play occasionally sags and is overloaded with pop cultural references, many of which escaped me. Nevertheless, it is a real tour de force for Drew Droege and for me it was worthwhile just to see him perform. Dara Wishingrad’s poolside set looked cramped on the small stage. The ubiquitous Michael Urie (Torch Song, The Government Inspector) directed. Running time: 80 minutes; no intermission.