Juwon Tyrel Perry’s new play, FLUSH, digs into a multitude of impactful stories revealed in the confines of a gay nightclub’s bathroom. Directed by Christian Alexander for Campfire Repertory, the play begins with ten individuals dancing enthusiastically along to Selena’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” not on the dance floor but in the gender-neutral bathroom. I find the opening scene to be crucial as it sets a joyful tone that soon turns somber as each of the characters takes turns revealing their story. It’s unexpected but necessary that we see and hear the facade being flushed away as the evening evolves, illuminating the complexities of identity and community.
FLUSH
Through 12/8: Thu–Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM; Chicago Dramatists, 798 N. Aberdeen, campfirerep.org, $30 ($45 VIP, $15 students/teachers)
Throughout the evening we meet ten individuals who are each striving, in their own way, to be seen and heard. From someone with a drug addiction battling his demons while on the toilet, to the lesbian couple expressing their individual views of love, to the mother figure consoling a gay man who is burdened with trying to communicate with his own mother who has shunned him, each of these powerful characters has an impactful story to share. Their stories reveal the plight—and joy—of queer life. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will hopefully be moved to understand the lives of members of the LGBTQ+ community. (Did you know that there are currently more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S.?)
Without giving it away, I can say that the ending of FLUSH reminds us of the tragedy of hate crimes directed at LGBTQ+ people. I highly recommend this moving and vital play.
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