Thespian Thoughts – Doctor Anonymous – Theatre Review by Sandro Monetti
DOCTOR ANONYMOUS – “Gay pride and prejudice make for an entertaining play”
Theatre Review By SANDRO MONETTI
Gay pride and prejudice are the themes of this impressive world premiere production based on a landmark real life event.
At the 1972 American Psychiatric Convention, a psychiatrist bravely announced from the stage that he was gay at a time when homosexuality was still classified as a mental illness. The play speculates on the events which might have led up to his decision.
Matt Crabtree does a great job of playing the shrink with a secret as he wrestles with his true nature and struggles at putting his profession before passion.
Barry Pearl shines as a veteran doctor who recommends gay aversion therapy to try and “save” his colleague and Richard Sabine wins lots of laughs as a self loathing gay patient.
Director John Henry Davis and writer Guy Frederick Glass cleverly draw out the comedy from a story which in lesser hands could have turned into a preachy polemic.
There is good use of 1972 television footage between scenes – everything from a Liberace variety show appearance to news footage of homosexuals being rounded up by police patrols – which adds a real sense of atmosphere to
an entertaining and informative evening of theatre.
DOCTOR ANONYMOUS
Written by Guy Frederick Glass
Directed by John Henry Davis
Presented by Gap in the Wall Productions
At Zephyr Theatre, 7465 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
90046
Fridays and Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 7 until May 4
Tickets $25 from 323 960 7724 or Plays 411
Cast:
Matt Crabtree, Christopher Frontiero, Kevin Held, Barry Pearl, Richard Sabine, and Jonathan
Torres.
Produced by Racquel Lehrman
Set and Light Design – Joel Daavid
Sound Design – Chris Moscatiello
Costume Design – Shannon Kennedy
Projection Design – Troy Hauschild
Production Stage Manager – Laure Jamme
Publicist – Lucy Pollak
Thespian Thoughts is a theatre review article on Actors Entertainment, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
