A local director. A 5 person cast. No budget. Small venue. Do you know what you get when you put all of that together? A pleasant surprise. Truthfully, I expected to be disappointed. Not because I thought it would be a “bad” play, but after years of attending live performances, I’ve come to have a certain level of expectation that is rarely met. I’ve had the esteemed pleasure of sitting front row for three Broadway productions, four at the Orpheum, and several others at venues worldwide, so you have to understand that I’m easily unimpressed by local productions. This time I was surprised. I’m not saying that The Wretched Void is Broadway ready, but I have to say that if Mr. Webber were in the same position as Scott Hancock, Cats wouldn’t have been much better. So kudos to the crew of The Cutting Edge for not only making the best of a bad situation, but also for delivering a powerful message on controversial topic with the grace and talent it demands.
The Wretched Void details the struggles of four LGBT youth struggling with acceptance, understanding, and inner turmoil, culminating in tragedy, a story that has become all too familiar these days. Scotti Maldonado, plays a 15 year old bullied at school and accurately portrays the desperation one feels when attempting to explain “the gay” to someone who is not homosexual. The frustration of constantly having to repeat the same tiring arguments to the misinformed is evident in his character’s demeanor and tone. Caroline Long and Danielle Jorn give a stellar performance as they personify the relationship of a self-righteous, socialite, single mother and her daughter’s coming out. Their interactions were perfect displays of the common mother-daughter arguments with a lesbian twist. Bravo ladies, you had me at hello. Jonathan Wheeler’s monologue displayed what I believe to be the constant prayer of every gay Christian youth. I expect that many of them have prayed to their god, pleading for an answer and finding solace in the inevitable. A true product of fundamentalist parents who can’t see past what they were told to believe, their son was left with only one choice. James Martinez rounds out the ensemble with a letter to those that should have been concerned. His delivery was real, heartfelt, and deliberate. I’ve had the unfortunate displeasure of seeing notes like that one before, having written something like that myself, and it was eerily accurate.
Now, with the sweets comes the sour, for such is the balance of life. Nothing ever gets better without some constructive criticism. As I writer, I’m often the recipient of critiques. Sometimes I care, sometimes I don’t. It all depends on the delivery. Having said that, let me say, that of course, the performance could have been better. The ending seemed almost anti-climactic. Perhaps that was the intent. However, I think that if the audience had been drawn in a bit more toward the end and forced back to realty with an old fashion shock, this play would be on their minds months down the road. The lack of props is sometimes a good thing, sometimes not, but what can you do with a zero budget? These players need funds people, and I believe with an upgrade to backdrops, costume, and make up, that they will have something spectacular. Get your checkbooks and support the arts! As with the evolution of scripts, the dialogue will get better with time and practice, perhaps some tweaking to voice and delivery. All in all, the good far outweighs the bad, and the entire cast and crew are to be commended for the talent, effort, and passion.
Upon leaving, I felt as though I had just seen the love child of Grover’s Corners and the Castro. That’s not a bad thing. Both places have gained international notoriety and deservingly so. I like the idea of a gay-themed Our Town. So if your looking for something to do on March 12, stop by the Starline in Fresno’s Tower District and take in the show. Show times at 1 PM and 5:30 PM. You won’t be disappointed.
