Review: LESBIANS AND THE MEN WHO LOVE THEM is Hard to Fall For at Capital Fringe Festival

A good title is everything. It sets up the entire tone of a production before any audience members have filed into a theater space. Undoubtedly, Lesbians and the Men Who Love Them has one of the most intriguing titles of the 80+ shows participating in the Capital Fringe Festival. It's a shame that the rest of the production doesn't pique the same intrigue.

Beginning with a college campus protest calling for a female president to be appointed to the unnamed university, M. Cristina Garcia's script starts strong. The first scene is quick and sets up issues of feminism, workplace equity, and combating patriarchal structures. These set-ups don't have much payoff, unfortunately, as action shifts to new scenes without much added context, leading to additional guesswork from the audience about how much time has passed and where action is taking place.

Most of the action revolves around activist Maria Alvarez (Rebecca Cohen) and her relationship with the no-nonsense Sandina Warriorwoman (Natasha Preston). The couple has spearheaded many protests in their time, becoming two of the most outspoken voices for feminist and lesbian activist groups. Trouble brews when Maria begins to develop feelings for a handsome reporter, Joe Perez (Darnell Eaton). There's so much discussion about sexuality in the show but, in 2018, it's a little surprising that no one in the production views sexuality beyond a binary gay/straight spectrum.

In fact, when it comes to discussions of social issues, there is such a surface level look at all topics explored. This 75-minute production feels like it wants to be so much longer, as if the version shown here is merely an outline for what the playwright wants to say in an extended version. When trying to tackle issues ranging from domestic abuse, to international human rights, to the AIDS crisis you need significant time to explore each topic. Unfortunately, each issue is forgotten almost as quickly as it is introduced, leaving several hanging plot threads. This is a production with a lot to say that is still trying to find its voice.

As Maria, Ms. Cohen captures a certain naiveté which makes her internal struggles very believable. Her performance style is subdued and realistic, which fits well in the intimate venue where Lesbians is performed. The rest of the ensemble wavers between realism and theatricality in a way which provides a fractured final picture. As Frank Santana, Maria's gay best friend, Alex Diaz-Ferguson is so over-the top which, while a crowd-pleaser, makes his role even more out-of-place than it should. Ms. Preston's Sandina is powerful but never lets her guard down, even around Maria, making their relationship difficult to root for. As as Joe, Mr. Eaton relies so much on natural charm that any authentic connection between his and Ms. Cohen's characters is difficult to find.

Individually, there are many pieces good about Lesbians and the Men Who Love Them. An extended script that allows for an exploration of the issues Ms. Garcia presents coupled with more uniform performance styles from the cast could help this show connect. Until then, the production leaves a lingering disappointment of promises unfulfilled.

Lesbians and the Men Who Love Them runs approximately 75 minutes and is playing at Christ United Methodist Church (orange venue) as part of Capital Fringe Festival. For information and tickets, click here. For additional information on Capital Fringe productions, click here.

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Sam Abney is a Washington, D.C. based arts professional. A native of Arizona, he has happily made D.C. his new home. Sam is a graduate from George Mason University with a degree in Communication and currently works for Arena Stage as a member of their Development team. He is a life-long lover of theater and is excited about sharing his passion with as many people as possible.

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