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Welcome to the Archive Version of the online On the Purple Circuit, which ran from 2000-2021. Bill Kaiser founded the Circuit as a newsletter in 1991, and, in 2000, Demian joined as co-editor. Demian programmed the site, expanded the scope of the Circuit, as well as retouched all the images. Demian needed to stop working on the Purple Circuit in order to realize his other projects, such as publishing the book “Operating Manual for Same-Sex Couples: Navigating the rules, rites & rights,” now available on Amazon, and to publishing his “Photo Stories by Demian” books based on his more than 6 decades as a photographer and writer. QueerWise and Michael Kearns have committed to offering a continuation of the Purple Circuit. The new Web address is purplecircuit.org. Bill Kaiser continues as editor and can be reached at purplecir@aol.com Bill and Demian express their appreciation for the hundreds of writers, directors, actors, and publicists who sent their articles and play data. They have toiled mightily to bring our gay, lesbian, trans, and feminist culture into public view, and appreciation. |
| Bill Kaiser, founder (1991), publisher, editor - purplecir@aol.com - 818-953-5096 Demian, associate editor (2000), Web builder, image retouch (since 2003) Contents © 2022, Purple Circuit, 921 N. Naomi St., Burbank, CA 91505 |
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Los Angeles Scene by Bill Kaiser March 2007 |
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Two important revivals are currently running in Los Angeles: “Beautiful Thing” by Jonathan Harvey at Celebration Theatre and “Diversions and Delights” by John Gay at Ruby Theatre at the Complex. Both are fine productions that entertain and inspire.
Beautiful Thing
The two teenage boy leads, Nathan Frizzell (Jamie) and Michael Tauzin (Ste), aptly carry this urban fairytale. Frizzell was last seen in the edgy “Four” and Tauzin in the equally provocative recent adaptation of “The Bacchae.” Sarah Taylor as Jamie’s understanding and humorous mother Sandra; Kelly Schumann as Leah, the trashy Mama Cass wannabe neighbor, and Nate Clark as Tony, Sandra’s sensitive lover, add to the spice and poignancy of the production.
Artistic director Michael Matthews, who directed “Beautiful Thing,” “Four,” and “The Bacchae,” manages the delicate balance between reality and fantasy in “Beautiful Thing.” Diversions and Delights In “Diversions and Delights,” we are inspired by Hutchins Foster as the fading, but still lively, Oscar Wilde-in-exile. It is after his devastating two years at prison hard labor as he gives a lecture in small Paris theatre in 1899, a year before his untimely death. This play was performed to acclaim by Vincent Price here in 1981, however, Foster actually adds a vitality that reminds us that Wilde was only 45 at this time.
The play weaves Wilde’s own repartee and that of some of his beloved characters into a delightful diversion. The set by Keith E. Mitchell captures the faded elegance of the period. The piece is firmly but lovingly directed by August Vivirito. All Wildeans in the Los Angeles area and everyone else should see this production at The Ruby Theatre at The Complex in Hollywood before it is gone. Other Shows of Interest “Confessions of A Mormon Boy” with Steven Fales has been extended again at The Coast Playhouse in West Hollywood. Celebration Theatre has another late night cabaret show on Friday and Saturday nights called “Lovers & Lullabies” hosted by Peter Bedard and featuring vocalists Bob Mundy, Richard Tanner, Victoria Tilford and Cynda Williams with dancers Angelique Perrin and Rusty Hamrick. |
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