'Casa Valentina' & 'The Realistic Joneses'

Two reviews by Elyse Trevers

Posted

This season, some shows are banking on star power. Others, like the two original shows Casa Valentina and Realistic Joneses, have terrifically talented ensembles who share the stage.

In Casa Valentina, the new play written by Harvey Fierstein and directed by Joe Mantello, a group of men travel to the Catskills for vacation. Although they have families, all are transvestites and the hotel is a safe place, where their predilection toward women’s clothing need not be kept secret. Set in 1962 in a run-down bungalow colony, the play is based on an actual hotel. The facility is run by George (Patrick Page) and his understanding wife, Rita (Mare Winningham). Except for dressing in women’s clothes, they are average regular guys who need to “release the inner girl.” Amy (Larry Pine) is a judge and the outgoing and gregarious Bessie is a decorated war hero. The senior member is Terry, played by veteran John Cullum, and the newest is newcomer Miranda (Gabriel Ebert).

One of the most charming moments is when the group dresses up Miranda, instructing him on the application of makeup and the use of gel pads for his derriere. Unlike the cross-dressers in shows like Kinky Boots and La Cage Au Folles, these “girls” are not stunningly beautiful; in fact, they are very ordinary, which is why the audience connects with them.

Reed Birney (looking very much like Madeline Albright) portrays Charlotte, the one open member of the ‘transversers' movement. Referred to as the “snake in the Garden of Eden,” he is making his first visit to the hotel. He wants the others to sign their names and addresses publicly so that the movement can gain strength. Part of Charlotte’s mission is to totally distance homosexuality from their movement, thus giving Fierstein a platform to reveal hatred and intolerance, especially through Charlotte’s shocking diatribe against homosexuals.

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