Love, Valour, Compassion Review – Being Gay in the 1990s

Penned by well-known playwright Terrence McNally, LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION premiered off-Broadway in 1994, rapidly moving on to Broadway in 1995, where it won a Tony for Best Play and a Drama Desk award for Outstanding Play. To quote critic Vincent Canby of the New York Times: “It’s utterly contemporary; its one-liners are sometimes hysterical and are slammed home with style…it has genuine pathos that’s only slightly tinged with sentimentality.” In 1997, LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION was adapted into a film starring Jason Alexander. In 2025, The Kentwood Players are proud to present LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION.

Gregory (Matt Landig), Arthur (Andre Heimos), Ramon (Giovanni Navarro), Buzz (Michael Mullen), James (Kevin Dulude), and Bobby (Ray Tezanos) – Photo by Gloria Ramirez Plunkett

The time is summer in the mid-1990s, and the place is Dutchess County, New York. Eight gay men get together in Manderlay – the home of Gregory Mitchell (Matt Landig), a celebrated middle-aged Broadway dancer and choreographer – for three summer holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day). Gregory is there with Bobby (Ray Tezanos), his blind boyfriend of four years; Bobby is in his early 20s and years younger than Gregory. Other guests include Buzz Hauser (Michael Mullen), a musical comedy enthusiast who falls in love with James Jeckyll (Kevin Dulude), who – like Buzz – suffers from AIDS. To complicate matters, James’ twin, John ((Kevin Dulude), is Buzz’s lover. The intertwined stories of these eight men flesh out the warm summer evenings.

Bobby (Ray Tezanos), Gregory (Matt Landig), Ramon (Giovanni Navarro), Perry (Elijah Green u/s) – Photo by Gloria Ramirez Plunkett

Skillfully helmed by Aric Martin, LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION digs deeply into the temper and tone of the times, a time when gay men typically found themselves dealing with being accepted by society at large during the scourge of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The ensemble cast does an excellent job of building each personality as a separate and intriguing entity while having them play off each other with mind games and poignant recollections. ALERT: There’s some male nudity to leave no doubt that sexuality continues to rear its head at the occasional inopportune moment. The play is performed in its original three acts with two intermissions between Acts 1 and 2 and 2 and 3. The breaks work well for the play – but well over two hours may seem overly long for today’s audiences, who are accustomed to shorter bursts of talent and tale.

Arthur (Andre Heimos) and Buzz (Michael Mullen) – Photo by Gloria Ramirez Plunkett

Mimi Hrivnak’s multi-leveled setting is simple but convincing with characters who move chairs about to simulate different scenes and locations – and a faux pool in the rear where sunbathers can go to steal the sun’s rays and a detailed kitchen to the side offering solutions to all their cravings. Shirin Paulino’s costumes define the times (occasionally with a bit of whimsy), while Chris Ordonez’s lighting defines time of day. Make no mistake: LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION is a complex play requiring many competencies and dexterities – and the Kentwood Players’ production meets the challenges with surprising flexibility and panache. 

Bobby (Ray Tezanos) and Gregory (Matt Landig) – Photo by Gloria Ramirez Plunkett

LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION runs through April 5, 2025, with performances at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays (Saturday matinees will be added on 3/22 and continue through the rest of the run. Kentwood Players perform at the Westchester Playhouse, 310 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Tickets are $25 ($4 discount for seniors, children, students, and military. For information and reservations, call 310-645-5156 or go online.