© Jim Cox IMMEDIATE FAMILY: (l-r) Matt Cavenaugh, Leslie Kritzer, Lori Wilner, Harvey Fierstein, Philip Hoffman, Tom Wopat and Faith Prince in a scene from A Catered Affair.
A Catered Affair portrays a lower income family in a very realistic way. This is not a fairytale. We are not watching a Disney fairytale. Harvey Fierstein plays a gay uncle who wants to be included in his favorite Niece's wedding. Fierstein, uses his wit and comic mind to make a very touching and sad odd man out. He is gay in the fifties when very few gay men were allowed to be out of the closet. I applaud Fierstein for adding this dimension to the musical.
Fierstein has written a book which is REAL. It grabs you by the heart and is very moving theater. I loved A CATERED AFFAIR. The story and actors work well together.
My only problem with the show was the fact that they under used some of this very talented cast.
Faith Prince and Harvey Fierstein shine. Harvey adds some comic relief to the writing:
"Why are you so out of breath? Harvey's character " Because i'm fat and old"
A Catered Affair is about loss, despair, love and family dysfunction. It might not appeal to the average tourist who is looking for a feel good fairytale. If you want that go and see The Little Mermaid. If you want to see a good play go and see A CATERED AFFAIR.
PS I also loved THE LITTLE MERMAID. (Just pointing out there are different kinds of entertainment and I happen to enjoy both)(Mermaid is fantastic for the child that lives inside all of us)
Corine Cohen
