The Hamptons Pride Film Series will return to Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theater on Sunday at 5 p.m. with "Love! Valour! Compassion!" the 1997 film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Terrence McNally play. Directed by Joe Mantello, the play stars John Glover, Jason Alexander, Randy Becker, Stephen Bogardus, John Benjamin Hickey, Justin Kirk, and Stephen Spinella.
In addition to the film itself, what makes this event a must-see is that Glover, the prolific star of film, television, and theater, will attend the screening and take part in a discussion afterward. Glover played twin brothers in both the play and the film, and won a Tony Award for his performance in the play.
The story follows the lives and loves of eight gay men from Manhattan who gather for summer weekends at a lakeside house in upstate New York to relax, reflect, and plan for survival at the height of the AIDS crisis. As the summer progresses, secrets surface and relationships are sometimes strained and sometimes strengthened.
In his review of the film, Roger Ebert said, "Glover won a Tony for this dual role on Broadway and contributes the two best performances in the film. Both the Jekyll brothers are so well acted that we believe in them as individuals, even when they have scenes together."
Variety agreed: "Glover shines in the dual role of the twins, employing distinct voice and mannerisms for each part."
Joining Glover onstage will be his husband, Adam Kurtzman, a sculptor, and Dianne Benson, gardening virtuoso, fashion icon, and president emerita of LongHouse Reserve. More than that, she and Glover have known each other since they met in college.
"John was around Bay Street in its beginning, with Sybil Christopher, who was a very good friend of his," said Benson. Christopher founded Bay Street with Emma Walton Hamilton and Stephen Hamilton. "He was in a Ron Nyswaner play there and in another Terrence McNally play."
When Scott Schwartz became artistic director of the theater, it presented "The Tempest" in Mashashimuet Park and then at a private home on Shelter Island. "Of course John played Prospero, and then he talked Scott into getting me into the play, so they turned King Alonso into Queen Alonsa," said Benson. "We hadn't acted on the same stage since college."
Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 on the day of the screening. The theater lobby will open an hour before the program.
