Casa Valentina, written by Harvey Fierstein and directed with energy and scope by Joe Mantello, is quite an intriguing exploration of cross dressing by heterosexual (or possibly bisexual) men who, in the 60’s, vacation at a special resort in the Catskills where these married men, who like to dress in women’s clothes, can express their internal feminine enjoyment of wearing female clothing. The argument goes that they are not gay and should be accepted as they are, differentiated from homosexuals, and left alone to pursue their pleasures without a label. Clothes don’t necessarily express sexuality. (I wear mismatched sox. Am I a schizophrenic?)
One of the most interesting roles I played as an actor was on a “Kojak” episode in which I played a transvestite kidnaper. I didn’t play it feminine — I was myself in women’s clothes, and the terrific, top-level actors in this play do the same. There is no mincing, no caricaturing of women. They all give rich, full performances.
Act one is filled with great Fierstein jokes, but not act two. It becomes a polemic, decrying those who don’t get where they are at and arguing for acceptance — serious arguments with little humor. But the production does stay engaging. Set by Scott Pask, lighting by Justin Townsend and costumes by Rita Ryack are merely superb, creating a well-done theatrical event, especially thanks to the masterful cast.
