My overall impression
Harvey Fierstein’s “On Tidy Endings” was first performed in 1987 in New York as one of three Fierstein one-acts on a program titled “Safe Sex.” Set in 1987, this short and sometimes fiercely funny and very poignant study of how the universal situation of losing a loved one, took on unique new qualities in the context of the beginning of the AIDS crisis.
Whose loss is it anyway? That’s the bone of contention between a gay man and a straight woman who meet to straighten up loose ends following the death of the man they both loved. As the story begins, Marion (Kimberly Patterson) and her young daughter Jenny (sassy scene stealer Makayla Rowles) arrive at the apartment she and her former husband, Collin, bought as an investment when they were married. After he came to terms with his homosexuality and moved on, Collin and his lover Arthur (Michael Mullen) lived in the apartment which Marion is now selling.
Patterson portrays Marion as being very determined to be levelheaded, even though Collin recently died of AIDS, something she did not know he had until he was on his deathbed in the hospital. She remains remarkably well-composed if rather nervous as she awaits the arrival of Collin’s lover, Arthur, who must sign some legal documents brought to Marion by her efficient and stressed for time lawyer, June (Kristin Towers-Rowles) to complete the sale and divide whatever possessions Collin left behind.
Marion and Arthur first approach the task in a businesslike manner, but try as they might, they can’t prevent emotions from surging to the surface. Marion’s feelings begin to unravel after Arthur berates her for hogging too much of Collin’s memorabilia for herself. In the heated conversation that follows, Patterson and Mullen take you on a journey through their characters’ lives with Collin, especially Arthur’s battle to do his best for Collin during their 3-year relationship, most of it spent caring for him as he suffered from AIDS and then died in his arms.
They bare their souls to each other, eventually finding common ground in the most unexpected way as they learn to accept each other’s importance in Collin’s life as they share the pain as well as the joy of the dead man’s life. Patterson and Mullen will tug at your heartstrings as they pull you into their all too familiar and exceeding tough discussion, one that must be going on in homes all over the world these days.
With top-notch direction by Sara Wagner and a cast of four, each of whom know how to make their characters come alive onstage, this is a play not to be missed during the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Performances continue at The Complex’s East Theatre, 6468 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. 90038 on Saturday, June 13 at 10pm, Saturday, June 20 at 10:15pm, Sunday, June 21 at 7:15 pm, and Saturday, June 27 at 2pm. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased at the door or in advance at http://hff15.org/2451.
