AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

Michael DiGaetano and Albin E. Konopka take a few good swings at the religious right in The Gay No More Telethon, a musical that takes us to Lynchburg, Virginia where the Religious Broadcasting Network is hosting its first televised fundraiser to support its work converting gays and lesbians into god-fearing straights.

Although the targets are obvious, and some of DiGaetano's book goes a bit astray when some of the church's disciples, whose treatment is in process, entertain, there is a lot of fun to be had here. Corey Glover shines as the oily reverend who heads up the network and church sponsoring the telethon. David Abeles and Gerti Lee James marvelously play a couple who've successfully completed their treatment and who are the country western star hosts of the event. DiGaetano's lyrics often surprise with their wit and Konopka's score, particularly his country tunes, sparkles. With some work, "Gay No More" could shine too.

---- Andy Propst

Presented by Fundamentally Wrong Co. as part of the New York International Fringe Festival at The Deluxe at Theatres The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, 13 Spruce Street, NYC. [remaining performances Aug. 21 3:00p.m.; Aug. 24 3:00p.m]
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