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Humorous play 'Jeffrey' tackles tough topic Artattack Theater Ensemble presents Paul Rudnick's award winning comedy "Jeffrey," Directed by Nicole Isaacson-Hill and starring Josh McIntyre and Jake Street. Artattack Theater Ensemble co-artistic directors Isaacson-Hill and Justin C. Lockwood first became familiar with Jeffrey from the 1995 film version starring Patrick Stewart and Steven Weber. Like many of their play selections, Jeffrey uses humor to communicate a very serious topic. In this case that topic is AIDS. Playwright Paul Rudnick claimed, "only money, rage, and science can conquer AIDS, but only laughter can make the nightmare bearable." It is laughter that Rudnick delivers in this fast paced, politically incorrect comedy that revels in stereotypes and then turns them upside down, revealing the real people underneath. A self-proclaimed "laugh-whore," Paul Rudnick has been called a "triple threat," because he is an accomplished playwright, novelist and screenwriter. On the big screen, his off-beat humor can be seen in Addams Family Values, and In and Out, as well as the film version of ""jeffrey"". In 1991, his play "I Hate Hamlet" was produced off-Broadway. Inspired by his own Greenwich Village apartment (once owned by John Barrymore), Rudnick poked fun at "high art." The Boston Globe called it "a funny play, the kind of nicely entertaining comedy Broadway doesn't seem to have much patience with anymore." "jeffrey" followed shortly after in 1992, and turned out to be and even bigger off-Broadway hit, winning an Obie, an Outer Critics Circle Award and a John Gassner Award, and earning him international fame. In spite of his growing relationship with Hollywood, he chose to remain in New York and focus on playwriting, his most recent plays are "The Naked Truth," which deals with the controversy over artist Robert Maplethorpe, a gay retelling of the Bible in "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told," and "Isn't she Great" starring Bette Midler and Nathan Lane, with a score by Burt Bacharach. "jeffrey" follows the title character through a series of comical situations as he tries to make sense of his life as a gay man living in Manhattan in the 1990s. "jeffrey" is not promiscuous, that's an ugly word. He's cheap and he loves sex � a lot. But as he becomes more aware of the threat of AIDS, he realizes that he can no longer afford to be the "pushover of lower Manhattan." He decides to say good-bye to his favorite pastime and pour his energy into his career as an actor � waiter. Of course, as soon as he resolves to abstain from sex altogether, he meets Steve, who is quite possibly the man of his dreams and also happens to be HIV positive. With the help of his best friends, Sterling and Darius, and the spiritual guidance of a lusty priest and Mother Teresa ("was it really her, or just some sort of really perverse drag queen?"), "jeffrey" finds the courage to say no to fear and yes to love. It was this positive message that attracted Isaacson-Hill. "This is probably the most controversial play we've produced but the message is so pure and clear and important to everyone, gay or straight, that I think it will resonate with the audience. That message is that love and joy have the power to conquer fear. We may not have the power to eradicate disease, but as long as we love one another and approach each day with a sense of joyousness and humor, we will prevail. And the play is so outrageously funny that watching it you feel the power of laughter." Josh McIntyre will play "jeffrey", Jake Street plays Steve. Joining them as "jeffrey"'s best friends Darius and Sterling are Duncan Hightower Eric Turner. Ellen Waters, Justin C. Lockwood, and Heather Lundy complete the ensemble as the various comical characters "jeffrey" meets on his journey. "jeffrey" runs Nov. 7 through Dec. 1, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at p.m. with Sunday matinees beginning at 2 p.m. at the Artattack Theater Space 310 Oak St. in Ashland in the former Cantwell's building. For ticket information call 482-6505 or visit www.artattacktheater.com. LINKS: REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. DAILY TIDINGS: Main | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -