Anthems and archetypes

San Francisco playwright and journalist Adam Sandel (pictured) can’t quite believe the depth of his involvement in the Gay Games. He’s in town as a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner and the Bay Area Reporter; as a playwright to oversee the premiere of Falling Off The Edge; and finally, as a lyricist, to hear his song Watch Me Shine performed by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in Sing Out To The World.

I wrote a sporting anthem -“ a drama queen! laughs Sandel.

It’s just another notch on the professional bedhead of Sandel, who has written 20 plays and, as an arts writer, has interviewed everyone from Sir Ian McKellan to Carol Channing. His latest play, a one-man work called Falling Off The Edge, was written especially for the Gay Games cultural festival at the behest of friend and actor Neal Shorstein.

I was hesitant, as I’m not a fan of solo theatre, admits Sandel. A lot of people make the mistake that just because something happened, that makes it interesting. I’d also never written anything on a gay theme before -¦ I decided to turn these into challenges.

The result is a comedy about Larry, a gay man who finds himself dumped by his partner just before his 40th birthday. His crisis takes both Larry and the audience back in time, to the stories of gay men from the 1930s, 50s and 70s.

Suddenly, the drama queen transmogrifies into the sports reporter -“ Sandel terminates our phone call so he can complete his media accreditation. Both onstage and off, it seems clear gay times are getting strange.

 

 

Falling Off The Edge runs from 7 to 9 November at the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown, Thursday and Friday 10:30pm and Saturday 3pm. Sing Out To The World is being held at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, on Thursday 7 November at 8pm. Phone 9266 4020 or visit www.sydney2002.org.au for bookings.