Beebo Brinker Chronicles: Booze, Brawdes and Sexuality
by Bambi Weavil
I’ve never read the popular lesbian pulp novels of the 1950s, but after seeing the play, Beebo Brinker Chronicles presented by the Hourglass Group production at 37 Arts (New York City), they’ve brought the frustrations of suppressed sexuality, throwing-your-clothes off passion, and love, to life. Produced by the talented team of Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner and directed by Leigh Silverman, the production was dedicated to the memory of Jaye Zimet, artist, author, and collector of Lesbian Pulp Novels. The play takes place over the course of nine years, from 1952-1960, and is set in California and New York City. The intimacy of the small stage elevates the details of each character and setting without causing distractions.
The production at first glance, seems to be centered around Beebo Brinker, played by the convincingly cool Jenn Collella, predator, territorial, intense and controlling lesbian, despite her open door policy of getting involved with most women she comes across. However, it is the intertwining relationships between the other characters (think L Word meets Romeo and Juliet in 1955) that is the most fascinating part of the Beebo Brinker Chronicles. The two main characters, Laura (Xanthe Elbrick) and Beth (Autumn Dornfeld), are in a ribbon flux of unhappiness as their lives are connected by being in the closet in a straight relationship, or being an awkward lesbian still hung up on her first broken heart. Elbrick’s portrayal really changes through the play in a surprising matter, and she has the most growth during the production. Dornfeld plays convincingly Beth’s own coming to terms of sexuality, as she unwraps the consequences of jumping into marriage with children and responsibilities.
The men in Beebo Brinker Chronicles are critical to the production, Charlie (Bill Dawes), the hetrosexual husband of Laura, who believes that Laura should keep her commitment to him and their children, and Jack (David Greenspan), the homosexual man who is Beth’s husband, best friend and comfort. Greenspan’s performance was exceptional, in comic timing, believability and echoes the experiences of being gay and alone and getting older.
The twists are unexpected, as Beebo as the connector and loop at times and is sometimes out of control, but in reality, it’s Laura finding and accepting out who she is before it’s too late. The Beebo Chronicles delivers in humor, sincere vulnerability and relief, with such a talented cast that take the production to excellence of analyzing sapphic personal history in Greenwich Village.
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Beebo Brinker Chronicles: At 37 Arts, 450 W. 37th St. New York City
Information: +1-212-307-4100; http://www.beebobrinker.com.
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A must see! I’ve never read lesbian pulp before, but am now VERY interested in picking up a few books for late night reading.
Phenomenal show! David Greenspan (as always) is brilliantly funny with his sharp tongued though deep down you can always hear his heart of gold beating for his frenetic lesbian-in-denial friend Laura.
I hear the show is closing this Sunday- April 27- so definitely buy tickets now!