Music & Concerts
Messy familial dysfunction handled adroitly in Woolly’s ‘Hir’
Resentment, sadness, anger and sadistic cruelty make for a memorable and often uncomfortable theatrical experience
Mitch Hebert and Emily Townley in ‘Hir.’ (Photo by Scott Suchman; courtesy Woolly Mammoth)
‘Hir’
Through June 18
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
641 D St., N.W.
$35 and up
202-393-3939
Woolly Mammoth is never afraid to go there. In the company’s unsettling and exceedingly well-acted production of Taylor Mac’s dark comedy “Hir,” a hideously dysfunctional family becomes scarily relatable. That their resentment, sadness, anger and even flashes of sadistic cruelty are frequently recognizable makes for a memorable and often uncomfortable theatrical experience.
After serving an overseas stint in the Marine Corps assigned to Mortuary Affairs Unit, Isaac (Joseph J. Parks) returns home seeking the familiar but what he finds is anything but. The formerly orderly, modest house is a mess. His once despotic father Arnold (Mitch Hébert) has suffered a stroke and has lost the ability to hold the family in his abusive grip. Isaac’s mother Paige (Emily Townley), Arnold’s longtime punching bag, is now in charge and for her that means subverting the patriarchy. She dresses her disabled husband in a woman’s pink nightgown and feeds him smoothies laced with estrogen to keep him docile. He sleeps in a box in the living room.
Isaac’s 16-year-old sister Max is now a wispy, whiskered transgender anarchist who uses the pronouns ze and hir (pronounced here). Max is played as a precocious, though typically self-involved, teen by Malic White whose real life pronouns are they/them/theirs. With Arnold no longer able to push them around, Paige and Max are exploring arts, culture and shifting the paradigm. Paige has hitched her wagon to her son’s dreams. There’s humor here but it’s never too far removed from tragedy
We soon learn that Isaac was dishonorably discharged after caught doing crystal meth. Paige is more curious than angry. She loves her son and is happy to have him home, but she insists he follow her new protocol. Her rules are designed to make her husband miserable: No cooking. No cleaning. No TV. Keep the air conditioning on high. And no empathy whatsoever is to be shown toward Arnold.
While Isaac acknowledges his father’s failings and history of abusive behavior in a poignant monologue, he still longs for order and some sort of patriarchal structure. So inevitably a battle of wills ensues. And while Paige revels in her new-found liberty, she remains mired in a sick living situation. And she’s not afraid to fight dirty when her way of life is threatened. Adeptly and fearlessly led by director by Shana Cooper, the talented actors superbly convey the family dynamics and baggage that such a mother/son struggle entails.
Adding to the family’s general disappointment is their longtime home, a starter house built atop a landfill, marvelously realized by set designer Misha Kachman. After living in the house for decades, the interior is still unfinished. There’s exposed insulation and framing, and by Paige’s design, a colorful mess of colossal proportion comprised of assorted junk, toys, piles of laundry, a doll house made from toilet paper cardboard tubes and a Christmas tree.
Playwright Taylor Mac, who uses judy (lowercase) as a gender pronoun, began writing “Hir” years ago, yet the work is particularly timely. The playwright describes divisive politics and explores whether people with different politics can ever truly coexist. Are different opinions acceptable? Is it imperative to compromise to heal? After years of abuse is healing even achievable? “Hir” asks these questions and more.
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.
For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.
Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.
The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”
Music & Concerts
Busy season for live music in D.C.
Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring
One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.
In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.
MARCH
Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.
The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.
If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.
APRIL
Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.
Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.
The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.
Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.
DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”
The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.
MAY
Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.
Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.
Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.
The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.
JUNE
Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.
Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.
Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.
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