"The Last Sunday in June," now in its regional premiere at the Know Theatre of Cincinnati, creates an interesting twist on the concept of a play-within-a-play.
This time, the play within is also the play itself.
It begins when Charles (played by Hamilton's own Chris Kramer) enters the apartment of Tom and Michael and sees Joe (Fairfield native Ryan Imhoff) sitting on the window sill watching the Gay Pride Parade on the street below.
"You look like you could be in a play," Charles says, and the rest of the show includes a running commentary on what a "gay play" is -- and with one notable exception, "The Last Sunday in June" fits the bill.
That one notable exception may either prove the rule or ultimately knock this script out of contention. We can't mention it here without giving away the ending, so it'll be up to those who venture down to the Know Theatre of Cincinnati to decide.
It's definitely worth the trip. Know Theatre is just beginning to stretch its wings in its new space at 1120 Jackson Street, but already the difference is palpable. For "The Last Sunday in June," set designer Samantha Reno recreates most of the New York apartment on Columbus Avenue in New York City, and director Nick Rose makes excellent use of the space. The audience sits on all four sides, making for a very natural flow of action.
The gist of it is this: Tom, a lawyer, and Michael, a teacher, have been together for six years and are making the plunge into property ownership. On Tuesday, they've got an appointment for the inspection for their new home in the suburbs. As the play opens, Michael is anxious to go to Pottery Barn to shop for lamps while Tom wants to stay home and invite friends over for their last Gay Pride Parade.
In spite of their differing agendas for the day, Tom and Michael seem to be a happy and established couple. But once Pottery Barn is back-burnered and guests start arriving, the cracks in the facade begin to show.
One of the guests is Tom's ex, James, who comes to the party to announce that he's getting married. The big surprise is that it's to a woman. The other guests feel betrayed by his rejection of their lifestyle and believe that covering up his true nature for the safety of an asexual marriage would be a grave mistake. So when James leaves, Tom calls the fiance, Susan, for "an intervention."
But if "The Last Sunday in June" is a "gay play," it also reverberates with some universal truths, exploring the lengths people will go through to have a relationship, even if love isn't a factor, or to have love, even if a relationship isn't a factor.
The genders may be different, but the games and the feelings are the same. Heartbreak is not reserved for straight couples. Loneliness is a land where there's room for everyone.