Dream Boy

The tragedy of being gay not only in the deep south in the mid-'90s, but in an intensely Christian community is explored in the theatrical adaptation of Jim Grimsley's award-winning novel "Dream Boy." While this is oft-explored territory, it's still relatable for most gay men these days so the longing and excitement of a secret first love will be familiar. But the book and the play go further than that, touching on a history of sexual abuse that infects our lead character's psyche and a rampant homophobia that ultimately makes life impossible for him.

That "him" is Nathan (Matthew Boehm) a handsome yet skittish kid who has just moved to town with his mother (Kate Connor) and father (Jim Hanna). As he enjoys the peace and simplicity of his new surroundings, he meets his next-door neighbor Roy (Randall Ray Clute). A few years older than him, the two become fast friends and it is immediately clear that Nathan has a crush. When the two start studying in Nathan's room together, it becomes apparent that the attraction is mutual.

Soon enough, Nathan is introduced two Roy's buddies Burke (Billy Evans) and Randy (Craig Jorczak) -- two "good ole' boys" that seem to like to get into a bit of trouble. They aren't sure what to make of Nathan, but they allow him into the group while still keeping him at arm's length. But as Nathan and Roy's relationship becomes deeper and more physical, everyone around them senses the change and tensions begin to bubble -- especially from Nathan's father, who has clearly not acted very "fatherly" toward his son in the past.

Nathan and Roy's relationship will meet tragedy in the play's final act during a camping trip in which Nathan, Roy and Roy's friends go searching for an allegedly haunted plantation house. There the ghosts of Nathan's past will arise, and the phobias of the small southern town will take root.

Truth be told, "Dream Boy" was a favorite book of mine when I first read it back in the mid-'90s. It was probably one of my first "gay" books so I took to it like a duck to water. Nathan reminded me of myself in that he longed for someone he thought was unreachable, but was able to attain that which he desired. Upon reflection, the story, today, seems almost unbearably sad. The character of Nathan is an optimistic kid who has suffered sexual abuse at the hands of his father and spiritual oppression by his community.

Author Grimsley gives him the one thing he wants and needs, but in the end everything (literally) is taken away from him. Which begs the question: what is the point? Maybe that is the point. That homophobia and ignorance can still cause great tragedy to those that are wholly undeserving. But it's still a massive downer.

The good thing, however, is that acclaimed director Michael Matthews has crafted an elegantly mounted production that is very much worthy of our attention. With an affecting, yet sometimes slightly muddled, script by Eric Rosen, Matthews transforms the Celebration Theatre into a space that gives the play a beautiful intimacy. Rosen's script does something lovely as well; he utilizes Grimsley's beautiful prose by giving us a "narrator" character (Christopher Maikish) that tells us what is going on throughout the play.

But the Narrator isn't just someone giving us small pieces of insight into the minds of the characters; he is also a reflection of Nathan. Or perhaps he is an alternate grown-up version of Nathan; or perhaps he is simply Nathan himself.

These touches give the play a maturity and depth that it needs to rise above the standard teenage gay/homophobic angst that so much of '80s and '90s gay literature offered. The end of the play is a bit confusing as we aren't exactly sure what happened (or maybe I'm just dense), but despite its downbeat curtain call, there is a beauty to the show that is worth seeking out.

While the cast is uniformly good, Boehm is the most affecting instilling Nathan with a charming nervousness that gives way to an odd confidence. Hanna as his father is effectively menacing, and Clute embodies Roy with a good-ole' boy charisma that is both sweet, but slightly off-putting. Whenever he tells Nathan "you can't do this with anybody else" you get the sense Nathan's attraction to him is because there's a little bit of his Dad in Roy. And by taking a bit more control over the relationship, he has started to conquer his past. The tragedy lies in that he never fully does.

"Dream Boy" runs through March 20 at the Celebration Theatre's new home, the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave., Los Angeles. For tickets or information, visit www.celebrationtheatre.com.