Minutes into Stephen Karam's, Speech & Debate, the playwright quickly and deftly makes the audience comfortable enough to laugh about gay teen, intergenerational, sexuality. That folks, is impressive.
This clever little comedy, which is currently playing at 2nd Story Theatre in Warren, RI, is ostensibly about three misfit high school students in Salem, OR. The town is immersed in a gay sex scandal that has everyone talking. The anti-gay Republican mayor is a closeted gay man who can barely admit his own truth, even when outed.
Howie (Johnny Sederquist), a high school senior who has recently transferred from Portland, OR, is chatting on gay.com and inadvertently has a conversation with a teacher at his new school. At 18, Howie is comfortable with his sexuality and how his lack of traditional masculinity is perceived. Nonetheless, he is pretty freaked out to be propositioned by a teacher who is twice his age.
Diwata (Valerie Westgate) is an ambitious, if marginally talented, theater diva. On her video blog, she rails against a puritanical society (her high school) that does not see the brilliance in her idea of a musical version of The Crucible or her value as a performer. As far as Diwata is concerned, if Wicked could take on the difficult subject matter of witchcraft and be huge success, so could The Crucible. Diwata is convinced that she would be perfect to play Mary Warren, the accused witch.
Solomon (Andrew iacovelli) is burgeoning cub reporter who has his sights set well beyond the local school paper. He is not afraid to write about controversial subjects and finds the censorship of high school stifling. Solomon is certain that the only thing keeping him from getting a big story published is his youth. When Solomon hears rumors about a sex scandal involving a teacher, he resolves to get the scoop. His sleuthing leads him to Howie and Diwata.
Diwata, realizing she will never get the lead in the school play has resorted to starting her own club, Speech and Debate. The two young men, grudgingly, join after she assures them that the activity will look good on their high school transcripts. The three are the sole members of the Speech and Debate club as well as the sole members of the Gay/Straight Alliance.
Director Ed Shea finesses some remarkable performances from the young cast.
Mr. Sederquist wholly inhabits the character of Howie, with his no-apologies sexuality. Mr. Iacovelli is more than convincing as Solomon, who is slowly coming to grips with how to thrive as a gay man. Ms. Westgate is brimming with effervescent teenage angst. Emily Lewis also delivers a fine performance as the lone adult voice in the play.
The structure of the Speech & Debate is tight, with nearly 20 scenes in 90 minutes that build real anticipation and excitements as the students prepare their final presentation to the students and faculty. The writing is witty and self-aware without being cliché. The play employs multimedia and music, but stops well short of being a musical. No preachy After-School special, Speech & Debate is a funny, entertaining and slightly uncomfortable look into the lives of these teens.
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Speech & Debate plays at 2nd Story Theatre through July 30th. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased at the Box Office which is located at 28 Market St., Warren, RI; by phone at (401) 247 4200 or online at www.2ndstorytheatre.com
Photo: Valerie Westgate as Diwata and Johnny Sederquist as Howie in Speech & Debate.
Photo Credit: Richard W. Dionne Jr.
