Shonn Northam wears a silver,
link bracelet. It was a gift from a friend in Los Angeles who
died of AIDS last year. Shonn received the bracelet a few
weeks after his friend died. A note was included with the
bracelet. The friend reminded Shonn to enjoy life: to dance,
to laugh, to smile. Shonn wears the bracelet daily, as a
reminder of his friend and the special friendship they shared.
Shonn is one of the
co-producers and actors in Paul Rudnick’s play, Jeffrey,
which will be presented by Mercury Players Theatre at The
Esquire, in Madison, July 1-17, 1999. The July
performances are dedicated to Shonn's friend, along with other
friends of cast members who have died of AIDS or who are HIV+.
A portion of each night’s proceeds will be given to Madison
AIDS Network. Shonn plays Darius, a dancer in Broadway’s
‘Cats,’ who is HIV+. Darius embodies a hopeful, stylish man
wSho lives life to its fullest in spite of his disease. He and
his lover, Sterling (played by co-producer Thomas McClurg),
are Jeffrey’s best friends. Jeffrey (Dave Durbin) views them
as role models for enduring gay relationships. But Jeffrey is
afraid of love and feelings and romance, now that AIDS is
around. His solution: Swear off sex altogether. Of his play,
playwright Paul Rudnick, who also wrote Addams Family Values, I’ll Take It, and I Hate Hamlet and crafted the screenplay for Sister
Act, says, "Jeffrey is a very personal play for me;
it is a play about love, death and wisecracks. Audiences often
imagine that a comedy about AIDS is impossible; Jeffrey is a tribute to people who battle disease and fear with
passion, humor and style." He adds, "Jeffrey is a blend
of romantic comedy, wild farce and real emotion."
Madison’s presentation of
‘Jeffrey’ is co-directed by Paul Giuliani and Jamie England,
who both also act in the play. Paul plays Steve, a man who has
clearly dealt with the rage and hopelessness which accompany
an illness as devastating as AIDS. Yet, Steve has chosen to
live a full, happy and romantic life. Jamie plays multiple
female roles, including Mother Teresa, a game show hostess,
Jeffrey’s mother, a New Age televangelist, and a high society
woman who’s raising money for AIDS research. All supporting
actors play several roles in ‘Jeffrey.’ William Bolz and Terry
Cremin display their talents as casting director, priest, game
show host, reporter, and Jeffrey’s father. Khaldun Mohamed,
Bill Chappie, and Theodore Hohman add laughter and drama to
the play as gym rats, cater waiters, thugs, sexual
compulsives, game show participants, and parade attendees. The
all-star cast moves fluidly between roles and transforms
themselves into new personas.
‘Jeffrey’ offers a fresh look
at "AIDS…the guest that won’t leave. The one we all hate." The
play reminds us to "hate AIDS, not life." |
