A Gay Perspective on Tragedy

Like many readers, I watched the devastating U.S. terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on television as they were happening. It is hard to believe that next month will mark the 15th anniversary of the horrific
day. The one that claimed nearly 3,000 lives and injured more than 6,000, among the dead and injured were a number of LGBT victims.

Brian Sloan's 2003 off-Broadway play "WTC View" was the first dramatic work to depict the 9/11 attacks from a predominantly gay perspective. It became a popular 2005 movie starring Michael Urie (Ugly Betty, Buyer
& Cellar) as Eric, a young gay man searching for a new roommate to share his apartment overlooking the remnants of the World Trade Center. Numerous candidates meet with Eric and end up sharing their personal accounts of that fateful day.

Orange County's Theatre Out will be presenting WTC View live beginning Friday, August 26. The LGBT theatre company in Santa Ana has consistently presented bold and timely plays and this is no exception. Southern California actor Jeffrey Fargo will be headlining as Eric, following previous appearances at Theatre Out in such productions as "Sweeney Todd" (a uniquely all-male version), "Corpus Christi" and "The Dying Gaul." He graciously spoke with The Rage Monthly shortly after his casting was announced.

I first asked Fargo what his experience working at Theatre Out has been like in general. "Fantastic! It's a great company because they do things you wouldn't see otherwise or anywhere else," he replied. "It's a great group of creative people and actors of mixed backgrounds, including gay and straight." In addition to Fargo, the cast of "WTC View" includes Christi Pedigo as Eric's best friend, Josie. Pedigo lived in New York City in 2001 and witnessed the September 11 attacks first-hand. Other cast members include Korey Gene Mitchell, Trent Brown, Kevin Manalang, Cris Cortez and Julian Ronquillo.

When asked to describe his character, Fargo said: "I think the playwright really specifies that while Eric is a gay man, he is an everyman that everyone who has gone through something tragic can identify with. He is trying to pick his life up and deal with so much." The various prospective tenants who check out Eric's apartment are similarly traumatized but working toward some kind of normalcy.

"The unity of the characters, gay and straight, trying to re-build their lives" is what Fargo says speaks to him most about this play. "They realize they share so much in common and have to rely on one another." This is especially true of Alex, a Wall Street trader who barely escaped the twin towers with his life. Eric, whose longtime boyfriend inconveniently left him around the same time, gradually comes to appreciate the new opportunities being presented to him.

"WTC View" is, naturally, given the subject matter, an emotional evening at the theatre. I asked Fargo if this makes it more emotional or difficult than other plays he has done. "I tend to do emotional stuff; that's what I'm drawn to, the humanity of a piece. With this, people always talk about how we have to remember September 11 and we actually have a show on September 11, but I think it's important for us not to remember the tragedy so much as our common humanity."

Director David Carnevale may be trying to say something similar with his decision to stage "WTC View" during our especially rancorous presidential election season. With both Republicans and Democrats focusing on their political differences, this play helps to remind us that it is only by focusing on our commonalities that we can ultimately achieve greatness. The "war on terror" that is still being fought 15 years after it began, continues to divide people and nations rather than bring us together.

See Jeffrey Fargo and company re-live the immediate effects of that infamous day on the Theatre Out stage not as a tragic reminder but as a hopeful meditation on what the U.S. can yet become: a nation of acceptance and mutual support that truly ensures justice for all.

"WTC View" runs Friday, August 26 through Saturday, September 17 at Theatre Out in Santa Ana, located at 402 W. 4th Street. For tickets and more information, call 714.220.7069 or go to theatreout.com