Arts & Entertainment
Family drama
Tender Roundhouse show well paced, acted
MaryBeth Wise as Mary and Ray Ficca as Bill in Roundhouse Theatre’s production of ‘How to Write a New Book for the Bible.’ (Photo by Danisha Crosby)
‘How to Write a New Book for the Bible’
Through May 5
Roundhouse Theatre
4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda
$10-$61
240-644-1100
roundhousetheatre.org
When his elderly mother Mary learns she has just six months to live, middle-aged Bill is forced to make a big decision: Go back to his life as a writer and Jesuit priest in the city or do what he thinks is the right thing — move in with mom and see her through to the end. Being the consummate dutiful son, Bill opts for the latter and during this cathartic time filled with scary pain, stretches of welcomed mundaneness and glimmers of joy, he grows even more appreciative of the stalwart mother he already loves.
In his latest work, the intensely autobiographical “How to Write a New Book for the Bible” (now at Roundhouse Theatre), playwright Bill Cain recounts the wide-ranging details of his 82-year-old mother’s death from liver cancer while also celebrating his life spent as the younger son in a mostly functional family.
The story takes place in Mary’s upstate New York apartment with frequent flashbacks 40 years prior to the Cain’s apartment in Queens. Speaking to the audience, Ray Ficca as Bill, warmly draws us into the world of his family, assuring everyone that the unfolding tale — at turns sentimental, funny, touching and occasionally starkly real (bring a hanky) — is true.
During development, the playwright dubbed this work “The Mom and Dad Play.” Yes, the lifelong love affair between sensible Mary (MaryBeth Wise) and her easier going spouse Pete (Mitchell Hébert) who could cut a rug and enjoyed a three scotch night out, is important to “Bible,” but a more apt working title might have been “The Cain Family Play.” In addition to the parents, both Bill (the play’s protagonist) and his older, athletic brother Paul (Danny Gavigan) are integral to the story. While Paul is deemed more physically capable by the parents, his clumsy but bright little brother Bill is still perceived as the favorite, setting the boys up for a mild, long ongoing rivalry. Nonetheless, the playwright’s respect and affection for his barely flawed characters is clear. Cain loves his family dearly.
Mary’s mantra is simple: life is tough, but if you work very hard it gets better. When Paul was a little boy he saved his pennies to buy a model from the hobby shop. At the register, he came up a nickel short. Mary refused to front him the five cents. She wanted to teach her son a lesson. She did — as soon as he comes of age, he’s off to Vietnam (a transformational military experience, compellingly played by Gavigan) and later raises a family faraway in Texas. But like all Cain family fights, Mary and Paul’s is eventually sorted out and put to rest.
Out actor MaryBeth Wise is extraordinary as Mary, fast forwarding 40 years, shifting from middle to late years, uncannily acquiring the rheumy eyes and slow gait that come with old age and sickness. As Bill, Ficca effectively portrays the frustrations and satisfactions concomitant with end-of-life caregiving. The remainder of the cast is equally good. Besides playing father and son, Hébert and Gavigan also effectively fill in as various annoying health professionals. Hébert additionally takes on a pair of smaller female roles, playing a recently bereaved hairstylist and Mary’s thoughtful, best friend Paulette.
With “Bible,” producing artistic director Ryan Rilette makes his Roundhouse directing debut. His smooth staging along with Daniel Conway’s deceptively simple, moving set; Colin K. Bills’ smart lighting design; and superb sound by Eric Shimelonis come together beautifully to support Cain’s time-travelling, quick scene-changing script.
Though Cain’s play is amusing and endearing, its center is about loss and pain. Ever the good son, Cain the playwright instructs that a bad situation can be made better- definitely a lesson worth sharing. His mother would be proud.
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John Waters released from hospital after car accident
Crash took place in Baltimore County
BY TAJI BURRIS | Baltimore filmmaker John Waters was released from the hospital Tuesday morning following a car accident.
The 78-year-old released a statement saying that although he was hurt in the Baltimore County crash, he did not sustain major injuries.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier and fireworks show returning June 8
The annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation will take place on Saturday, June 8 at 9 p.m.
The Washington Blade, in partnership with LURe DC and The Wharf, is excited to announce the 5th annual Pride on the Pier and fireworks show during D.C. Pride weekend on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 2-10 p.m.
The event will include the annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation at 9 p.m.
Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Southwest waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older. Local DJ’s Heat, Eletrox and Honey will perform throughout the event.
3 p.m. – Capital Pride Parade on the Big Screen
3:30 p.m. – Drag Show hosted by Cake Pop!
9 p.m. – Fireworks Show Presented by Leonard-Litz Foundation
The event is free and open to the public. The Dockmasters Building will be home to a VIP experience. To learn more and to purchase tickets go to www.prideonthepier.com/vip. VIP tickets are limited.
Event sponsors include Absolut, Buying Time, Capital Pride, DC Brau, DC Fray, Burney Wealth Management, Infinate Legacy, Leonard-Litz Foundation, Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, MISTR, NBC4, The Wharf. More information regarding activities will be released at www.PrideOnThePier.com
a&e features
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars’ cast visits D.C.
8 queens vie for $200,000 prize for charity in new season, premiering May 17
Donning sparkling and star-studded red, white, and blue attire on a gloomy, humid D.C. Monday, the cast of the latest “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” season sashayed on the National Mall to promote the reality show’s ninth season.
This upcoming season is different than those in the past — eight queens are competing for a donation of $200,000 for the charity of their choosing, rather than a personal cash prize.
Several cast members noted how it felt important to visit the nation’s capital, being authentically themselves and wearing drag. Nina West, who competed in season 11, likened drag to armor.
“We’re here during a really specific time in history, that’s, I would say, markedly dark,” she told the Blade at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. “And there’s an opportunity, as drag has always done, which is for our community as specifically LGBTQI+ people, to stand in our truth and be wonderful — like guardians and fighters for our community.”
She’s competing for the Trevor Project, which is focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for young LGBTQ people. This season’s pivot to compete for charity made Nina West want to come back on the show for the All Stars season. She’s been offered the spot two times before this, she said, and this twist aligned with what she wanted to do.
Several of the other queens mentioned that it’s an honor to be featured in this season, including season 5’s Roxxxy Andrews. She also competed in two subsequent All-Stars seasons.
She chose the organization Miracle of Love, which provides HIV/AIDS prevention programming and assistance in central Florida. It’s a smaller, more local organization, which is why Roxxxy Andrews chose it. She wants to make its work more nationally known. Also, vying to win during a charity season makes the competition feel more rewarding, she said.
Plastique Tiara of season 11 also noted it’s different competing for charity. She’s competing for the Asian American Foundation, which launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and aims to curb discrimination and violence through education and investments in nonprofits.
“It’s more competitive because then you’re fighting not just only for yourself, but your ideas and the things that you love,” she said.
Vanessa Vanjie of seasons 10 and 11 agreed that competing for charity adds a bit more pressure — she chose the ASPCA. And as onlookers near the Lincoln Memorial took pictures of and with the queens, she said she was relieved.
“I was a little bit worried somebody would yell some slurs at us,” Vanessa Vanjie said. “Nothing happened. Everybody came to take pictures like Santa Claus in the middle of the mall.”
There’s a range of contestants from different seasons for this round of All Stars. Some queens hail from recent seasons, but Shannel competed on the show’s first season. To be a part of this new season is surreal, she said.
She’s competing for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, which she has a close tie to. She’s dealt with anxiety her entire life. The association is focused on increasing awareness and improving diagnosis and treatment.
“I always felt like I just wasn’t normal, sadly,” she said. “And so now being able to be able to do this season and to get back to that organization is like amazing to me.”
Gottmik, from season 13, is competing for Trans Lifeline — a nonprofit providing advocacy, a hotline and grants created by trans people, for trans people. Being able to do drag and give back is the “perfect scenario,” Gottmik said.
Gottmik was the first openly trans man on Drag Race, which was overwhelming when first on the show. Gottmik felt pressure to be the “perfect example,” but later realized that they didn’t have to worry so much.
“I just want to show people that trans people are real people. We can express ourselves however we want to express ourselves, through drag, through whatever it may be,” Gottmik said.
The new season will be available to stream on Paramount+ on May 17.
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