As Much As You Can
If you haven't seen this play you MUST see it... it is timely, VERY well written, and funny. Our friend Paul has written a play about gay marriage, race relations, and family relationships.
"When Jesse returns home to Chicago for his brother's wedding, he surprises -- or, as his best friend Nina says, "ambushes" -- his family by bringing along his Swedish boyfriend, Kristian. Jesse's three siblings have varying reactions to the couple: half-sister Ronnie is supportive and anxious for the family to fully accept Jesse and Kristian as a couple; younger brother Tony, once he conquers his initial homophobia, is resistant to welcoming a white man into their African-American family; and deeply religious sister Evie thinks that Jesse is betraying the memory of their deceased parents by "choosing" what she considers a sinful, unnatural lifestyle. Through card games, language lessons, and literature, they all strive to live, love, and give as much as they can."
The Reviews:
"LA Weekly wrote of the January 2008 Los Angeles production: “This is a tight little play with many surprises, not the least of which is playwright Stovall’s restraint with a story that could have turned into a potboiler or movie-of-the-week fable. Instead, at every turn when the plot involving members of the wedding could bog down in histrionics, Stovall has his characters step back and realize that the world keeps turning, with or without their participation. The result is a quiet, achingly humorous study of a family that manages to survive its self-inflicted crises.” "
About Paul:
"Paul Oakley Stovall, the playwright, has been writing since the age of 16 when his first volume of poetry, another piece of hope, was published by Trail Press. His first play, Love Rules, (which he also directed) received its world premiere at the Theatre School, DePaul University. As Much As You Can has been produced at Dog and Pony Theatre in Chicago (where he is a resident artist), at NY's International Fringe Festival, and most recently to at Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles, starring Tonya Pinkins, Mr. Stovall, and J.Nicole Brooks (Ovation award for Best Featured Actress). Mr. Stovall has adapted the play into a feature film with co-writer Laura Eason, entitled The Loving Are The Daring. His most recent play, Ape, received its world premiere at Dog and Pony in the fall of 2007. He is currently in development on a new musical about the life of famous gay activist Bayard Rustin, produced by Hendel productions. His work has been developed at About Face Theatre, Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, and San Francisco Playhouse. Mr. Stovall has dozens of acting credits on stage and screen. Mr. Stovall is currently working as a Media Logistics Coordinator on Barack Obama’s Inauguration and washonored to spend the last six months of the Obama campaign working on the National Advance Staff. "
"When Jesse returns home to Chicago for his brother's wedding, he surprises -- or, as his best friend Nina says, "ambushes" -- his family by bringing along his Swedish boyfriend, Kristian. Jesse's three siblings have varying reactions to the couple: half-sister Ronnie is supportive and anxious for the family to fully accept Jesse and Kristian as a couple; younger brother Tony, once he conquers his initial homophobia, is resistant to welcoming a white man into their African-American family; and deeply religious sister Evie thinks that Jesse is betraying the memory of their deceased parents by "choosing" what she considers a sinful, unnatural lifestyle. Through card games, language lessons, and literature, they all strive to live, love, and give as much as they can."
The Reviews:
"LA Weekly wrote of the January 2008 Los Angeles production: “This is a tight little play with many surprises, not the least of which is playwright Stovall’s restraint with a story that could have turned into a potboiler or movie-of-the-week fable. Instead, at every turn when the plot involving members of the wedding could bog down in histrionics, Stovall has his characters step back and realize that the world keeps turning, with or without their participation. The result is a quiet, achingly humorous study of a family that manages to survive its self-inflicted crises.” "
About Paul:
"Paul Oakley Stovall, the playwright, has been writing since the age of 16 when his first volume of poetry, another piece of hope, was published by Trail Press. His first play, Love Rules, (which he also directed) received its world premiere at the Theatre School, DePaul University. As Much As You Can has been produced at Dog and Pony Theatre in Chicago (where he is a resident artist), at NY's International Fringe Festival, and most recently to at Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles, starring Tonya Pinkins, Mr. Stovall, and J.Nicole Brooks (Ovation award for Best Featured Actress). Mr. Stovall has adapted the play into a feature film with co-writer Laura Eason, entitled The Loving Are The Daring. His most recent play, Ape, received its world premiere at Dog and Pony in the fall of 2007. He is currently in development on a new musical about the life of famous gay activist Bayard Rustin, produced by Hendel productions. His work has been developed at About Face Theatre, Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, and San Francisco Playhouse. Mr. Stovall has dozens of acting credits on stage and screen. Mr. Stovall is currently working as a Media Logistics Coordinator on Barack Obama’s Inauguration and washonored to spend the last six months of the Obama campaign working on the National Advance Staff. "
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