Doric Wilson’s done it again, again. Let me explain: Last year TOSOS II presented the first major New York revival of Wilson’s play about the Stonewall riots, Street Theater, in a landmark production that reminded us just how good gay theater can be. Now the folks at TOSOS II are staging another revival of a Wilson play, A Perfect Relationship, and once again they raise the quality bar for New York gay theater. This time around, the play is about personal rather than political issues, as we focus on roommates Ward (Kurt Bauccio) and Greg (Frank Anthony Polito), two decidedly "straight-acting" gay guys (look out for the Judy Garland albums under the bed!) who pride themselves on their commitment to not committing - not to each other, not to anybody.
Then, outwardly sweet but ultimately manipulative leather twink trick Barry (Kevin Held) crashes into their lives, bringing their "non- relationship" - and their precarious real estate situation - into question. See, they’re subletting from colorful nympho Muriel (Eileen T’Kaye) - enough about that, because I’m hoping you’ll go see this smart, sexy gem of a romantic comedy (for all of you disappointed by Sleeping With Straight Men and the like, this is the real deal). All of the actors are terrif, but I want to single out for special praise Christopher Borg, who plays three of Muriel’s many lovers. He transforms completely for each one: This guy is without a doubt one of the best, smartest young character actors in the city. So why haven’t you made your reservations yet? —Jonathan Warman, HX April 2003
The revival of Doric Wilson's 1979 classic A Perfect Relationship once more shows off director Mark Finley's skill and reminds us that before Martin Sherman and Lanford Wilson and Harvey Fierstein began writing about gay relationships Doric Wilson showed the way. Last season Tosos II staged his groundbreaking Stonewall riots comedy Street Theater. Now the theatre follows up with an unromantic but hilarious gay romance which finds Ward and Greg sharing an illegal sublet but not a love life. Each, in this pre-AIDS play, picks up tricks for one night stands but does the domestic chores--or rather avoids doing them--together. As a reminder of the sleeping-around norm for all singles in the 70s, Wilson creates an equally promiscuous straight woman as the apartment's real tenant. Among the uniformly talented cast in this rollicking revival I must mention Eileen T'Kaye, who doesn't miss a beat in timing Muriel's gags as she calls the shots for all the men, gay and straight, then saves the day for our heroes. - Tish Dace, Plays International - Spring 2003
A Perfect Relationship is a charming play about two roommates, Ward and Greg, who are tricked by the same one-night stand out of their sublet Greenwich Village apartment. Though its principal characters are gay men, it feels like one of those airy screwball comedies from the 1930s, especially because we know almost as soon as the play has begun what its two leading characters do not—that they are in love with each other, and need to wind up together in the final scene.
The journey there, true to form, is the fun of the thing, as Ward and Greg battle an overbearing landlady (well, sublessor, technically), a devious "trick" named Barry (who manages to sleep with both roommates in a 24-hour period, and also to get the lease to their apartment transferred into his own name), and each other before realizing that their heretofore platonic relationship is, indeed, perfect. The landlady, Muriel, is a hoot—a free-thinker of indeterminate age who earns her livelihood by subletting apartments all over town, in which she stores various of her myriad possessions. She runs through boyfriends the way most people run through newspapers—we get to meet three different ones during the course of the play—yet she thinks nothing of interfering in Greg and Ward's lives despite the chaotic nature of her own.
Playwright Doric Wilson places these off-the-wall but likable characters in several farcical situations, to grand comic effect. The interplay between Ward and Greg—who have honestly never contemplated anything like a sexual union—is beautifully delineated, and actors Kurt Bauccio (Ward) and Frank Anthony Polito (Greg) fall into the natural rhythm of mates who have cohabited for a very long time with real felicity; their chemistry is palpable...both Bauccio and Polito project an affable regularness.
But their relationship—and its inevitable outcome—feels natural and timeless; though a few specific references date it, in most ways A Perfect Relationship is as fresh and relevant as a brand new play like The Last Sunday in June. People never stop behaving foolishly when it comes to matters of the heart, after all.
This production, from Wilson's company TOSOS II, is nicely directed by Mark Finley and features a smart, compact set by Michael Muccio that serves the piece well. Eileen T'Kaye as the flamboyant landlady Muriel, Kevin Held as the sneaky Barry, and, especially, Christopher Borg as Muriel's three bizarre boyfriends-of-the-moment, complete the ensemble ably. (reviewed by Martin Denton on April 8, 2003—abridged)
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Stonewall veteran Doric Wilson has a lot to say about gay culture. In his 1978 domestic comedy A Perfect Relationship, currently playing at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex, the prolific playwright masterfully demonstrates to modern audiences how much and yet how little gay men have changed over the past 25 years.
On a snowy weekend in the late 1970s, two men share a two-bedroom apartment on Christopher Street. They have little in common other than their penchant for partying and saving money by platonically living together. When a trick spends the night and then decides to take over the place, he causes a commotion between the two friends, leaving their eccentric landlady to come to save the day.
Kurt Bauccio played Ward, a wannabe-butch construction worker who bought his hardhat at Bloomingdale's. His roommate, Greg, played by Frank Anthony Polito, is a lover of the cowboy fantasy. More straight-laced than his counterpart, he tries to bring some sort of sanity to the household, with very little luck.
Eileen T'Kaye played Muriel, the intruding landlady who barges into their apartment whenever she needs to pick up some of her furniture or drop something off (which is quite often). This gave the audience the chance to meet her new boyfriends, all gorgeously portrayed by Christopher Borg. Her entrances and exits made for the most delicious comic situations of the show. T'Kaye's Alice in Wonderland-esque energy was loads of fun to watch.
The most thought-provoking point in the show also included T'Kaye, when she delivered a gripping monolog attempting to convince the two friends that they have found the perfect relationship.
Kevin Held charmingly played his role as the gone-too-far trick Barry. The sprightly player delivered his lines with sitcom speed and clarity that were amusing and appreciated. In one of the funniest moments in the play, Held was dressed in leather head to toe and asked if Bauccio had something to drink. When the host offered him a beer he replied, "I don't drink beer." After a quick moment of contemplation Bauccio protested, "you were drinking beer at the bar." With characteristic Wilsonian wit Held replied, "it goes with the costume."
Mark Finley did a magnificent job directing in the intimate space, accommodating the varied sightlines imposed by the three-quarter-round configuration.
Costume design by Chris Weikel was colorful and interesting. All of T'Kaye's costumes were effective in their gaudiness and were in line with the self-proclaimed "fag hag" her character admits to being, while Held's leather outfit was sexy and realistic. Borg's outfits were also appropriately over the top and delightful.
Michael Muccio's set design was intricate and meticulous. The used-up furniture that T'Kaye brought in was classically horrific. An impressive bit of prop detail was noticed when Polito poured a near-empty carton of milk in a glass, and then coolly threw it in the trashcan behind him as he drank the perfect amount. Specifics like these provided by Finley and a talented crew made for an engaging evening.
A classic in gay literature, A Perfect Relationship is a look back at where gay society has been while demonstrating a glimpse of the unique shades in gay male friendships. There is no doubt that we will see more theatrical works from New York's gay theatrical treasure in the near future with the re-emergence of TOSOS II. Welcome back, Mr. Wilson. (reviewed by Jade Esteban Estrada, April 17, 2003)