• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

Fault Line Theatre’s ‘From White Plains’ Opens Off-Broadway: REVIEW

Naveen Kumar February 20, 2013

JacobJGoldbergPhoto_FromWP_HiRes__DSC0625

BY NAVEEN KUMAR

Imagine making a movie, 15 years later, about your teenage torment at the hands of a high school bully — and
winning an Oscar for it. Now, imagine that bully watching the televised broadcast
when you name him, specifically, in your acceptance speech. The look on his
face kicks off the story of From White
Plains
, which opened Off-Broadway last week in a Fault Line Theatre
production at the Perishing Square Signature Center. 

JacobJGoldbergPhoto_FromWP_HiRes__DSC0353The scene could just as easily mark
another story's happy ending — one that begins with a boy bullied on the
playground, follows his search for self-acceptance and success as an artist,
and ends with a trip to Los Angeles (handsome boyfriend in tow) to collect the
most coveted affirmation in Hollywood. But White
Plains
writer and director Michael Perlman isn't interested in telling a
one-sided story.

Thirty-year-old Ethan Rice (played
by Aaron Rossini), hearing himself named on the Oscar telecast, learns for the
first time that his teenage bullying had tragic, unforeseen consequences. In the
film, Ethan's former classmate Dennis (Karl Gregory), portrays not just his own
experience but that of his best friend, whose suffering at Ethan's hands led him
to suicide.


JacobJGoldbergPhoto_FromWP_HiRes__DSC0529In response to being publicly blamed
for the horrible outcome he never imagined as a teenager, Ethan releases an
apology video online. Dennis follows with a swift rebuttal, and the two men engage
in the sort of drawn-out virtual face-off that's become a pop-culture staple.
Dennis' boyfriend Gregory (Jimmy King) tries his best to intervene, asking
Dennis whether airing his anger in front of the whole world really makes him
any happier.

While the premise is pretty near
fantasy — it's hard to imagine Dustin Lance Black name-calling in an acceptance
speech, and where is this guy's publicist? — the play that unfolds from there is both
impressively circumspect and firmly grounded in its characterizations.

Where sympathies lie in a story
like this one would usually be pretty clear, but the play succeeds in upending
expectations and presenting an insightful and honest look at all sides an
unfortunately all-too-familiar story. Between Dennis' passionate crusade to combat childhood ghosts, and Gregory's resistance to come out to his own parents, the play also becomes a thoughtful meditation on pride, shame, and the dynamics of love and sexual identity.

JacobJGoldbergPhoto_FromWP_HiRes__DSC0470Directing his own play with a sure hand,
Perlman doesn't shortchange any of his characters — each member of the talented four-man
ensemble (rounded out by Craig Wesley Divino as Ethan's best friend) has a
clearly defined emotional life worthy of careful consideration.

Though it's clear that Ethan was just
another self-conscious kid, trying to get laughs from his friends at others'
expense, Dennis is still struggling — not only to overcome the death of his best
friend, but to combat the echoing voice of self-hate that Ethan planted in his
head during their formative years.

Without letting the bully — or the society of which he's a product — off the hook, Perlman poses the possibility of forgiveness
for someone whose worst transgressions happened when he was young, insecure,
and ignorant of the profound damage he might cause. The play examines lasting scars schoolyard brutality, while acknowleding that placing blame isn't quite so simple.

Recent theatre features…
Tectonic Theatre Project Presents 'The Laramie Project Cycle' At BAM: REVIEW
Ethan Hawke Opens in ‘Clive' Off Broadway: REVIEW
Martin Moran's 'All The Rage' Opens Off Broadway: REVIEW
Ben Rimalower Is Working Through His 'Patti Issues' At The Duplex: INTERVIEW
'Picnic' Starring Sebastian Stan Opens on Broadway: REVIEW

Follow Naveen Kumar on Twitter: @Mr_NaveenKumar ( photos: jacob j goldberg)

Topics: Nature/Climate, News, Society, Theater More Posts About: Naveen Kumar, New York, New York, News, Review

Related Posts
  • New York begins offering gender neutral driver’s licenses
  • Russia Blocks Facebook, Accusing it of Restricting Access to Russian Media;
  • Duran Duran Has New Music And You Are About To Enjoy it. It’s 2021. Seriously.
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « Frank Ocean Has Recorded 11 Songs for His Next Album
Next Post: DC Comics’ ‘Batwoman’ Proposes to Her Girlfriend »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • Born On This Day: Don Rickles
    Born on this day in 1926. Married to Barbara for 52 […]
  • Nathan Lane says his Hulu comedy ‘Mid-Century Modern’ is more than “the gay Golden Girls”
    Nathan Lane joined Deadline on The Actor’s Side to discuss his […]
  • Princess Kate repeated an Alessandra Rich dress for the VE Day service at the Abbey
    The Windsors gathered at Westminster Abbey earlier today for the service […]
  • “Leonardo DiCaprio did not want to be photographed at the Met Gala” links
    Leonardo DiCaprio actually attended the Met Gala with Vittoria Ceretti, his […]
  • OMG, he’s naked RETRO EDITION: Antoine Basler goes full-frontal in ‘Paris s’éveille’ (1991)
    If you’re a fan of vintage bush, check out Antoine Basler […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×