Bright Colors and Bold Patterns
About the show
The solo comedy about what gets left behind as homosexuality moves into the mainstream returns for an encore run. Directed by Michael Urie ('Ugly Betty,' 'Buyer & Cellar').
Josh and Brennan are about to get married in Palm Springs on a lovely Saturday afternoon. However, the night before becomes a drunken, drug-fueled riot because their friend Gerry has arrived, furious that their invitation says, "Please refrain from wearing bright colors or bold patterns." In the struggle for equality, what do we really want? What do we lose? And is there any cocaine left? 'Bright Colors and Bold Patterns' was written and originally performed by Outfest Award winner Drew Droege, who is best known for his online videos as Chloë Sevigny. Jeff Hiller ('Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson') now stars.
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Only valid on standard tickets. Premium tickets in select seats in Rows E, F, G, & H. Blackout dates may apply. Blackout dates may apply. All sales are final - no refunds or exchanges. Offer subject to availability. Not valid in combination with any other offers. Normal service charges apply to phone and internet orders. Performance schedule subject to change. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice.
Terms
Blackout dates may apply. All sales are final - no refunds or exchanges. Offer subject to availability. Not valid in combination with any other offers. Normal service charges apply to phone and internet orders. Performance schedule subject to change. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice.
"As played with devastatingly funny panache by Mr. Droege himself, Gerry would probably be overwhelming in real life...But at a safe distance onstage, he’s a delight — a slightly exhausting one (10 minutes less would be more), but still a delight...Plays do not get much gayer than 'Bright Colors,' which opened in a spiffy production directed by Michael Urie...This 80-minute evening is essentially an audience with Gerry...I believe the clinical term is 'hot mess.'" Full Review
"Hasn't lost any of its biting wit and dark laughs...It's a marvelously funny piece of writing...Hiller nails it time and time again. It's bitchy and uncomfortable at moments, cruel and mean-spirited at times, but underneath all that, there lies a whole lot of raw truth in that discomfort...The talented threesome of Urie, Droege, and Hiller squeeze out every conceivable laugh from this very funny, dark, and engaging material." Full Review
“If you don’t like gay-themed plays or one-person shows or are offended by rough language, drinking and drug taking, you can stop reading here. This play is not for you...We never actually see the three housemates, but Gerry converses with them so convincingly that they are vivid presences....The play occasionally sags and is overloaded with pop cultural references...Nevertheless, it is a real tour de force for Drew Droege and for me it was worthwhile just to see him perform.” Full Review
"The return of Droege’s hilarious comedy continues to resonate despite a slightly dated message...Ambiguity plays highly into Droege’s quick tempo comedy, aptly directed by the brilliant Michael Urie, a sharp comedian in his own right. The combination of Droege and Urie is quite possibly why this production moves as swiftly as it does...Droege is a high energy performer who has the ability to make his material fresh and new, fitting for this character." Full Review
“80 minutes of classic gay snark...Droege is hilarious as Gerry, causing the audience to laugh loudly and often at the character's antics, which include a number of popular culture references...While the section in which Gerry lets down his guard is needed in a play that would otherwise be too superficial, this portion dragged a bit and could have been shorter. Nevertheless, 'Bright Colors' is an entertaining character sketch. It might not get you thinking very much, but it will keep you laug... Full Review
"Drew Droege’s uproarious solo portrait of a gay man on the verge...Droege plays one-sided conversations disguised as a monologue opposite empty chairs...What begins as an anxious and colorful kind of frenzy descends with the sunset into something more dour...They may not be your style, but Gerry’s impassioned defense of living in a full range of hues will likely stir something in you, too." Full Review
"A theatrical display of comedic genius. Any fan of Droege's other work will instantly recognize his quick wit, less-then-obvious humor, and underlying intelligence, all quietly commanding a seemingly chaotic, over-the-top ship...Hiller gives an awe-inspiring display of acting craftsmanship...The bare bones of his performance have clearly been guided by Urie's firm and expert handling of comedy in basic human behavior." Full Review
“Played by the author, Droege, Gerry is a lot of fun to hang out with...Droege’s performance, directed skillfully by Michael Urie is exuberantly comic; his writing has marvelously evocative phrasing...Droege plays only Gerry, but he evokes the others by listening with consummate skill...There are few shows playing now that are as consistently funny, but one hopes that he’s already working on a follow-up—that 'Bright Colors' is merely a prelude to more works as richly comic as this." Full Review
"A self-absorbed, ostentatious, and highly opinionated rant...The dialogue of quick witted repartee, consists of insults, abusive humor, and innuendos that are dated and trivial adding nothing to the dimension of the character or movement of the plot...Director Michael Urie keeps the evening moving at a rapid pace which helps hide the script's imperfections...If you (gay or straight) enjoy sarcastic, bitchy gay humor with absolutely no substance this might be a great way to spend the evening." Full Review
“A hilariously campy night at the theatre...A fearless solo performance with a hell of a lot of heart— though the main character, Gerry, wouldn’t likely admit it...I initially cringed when Gerry spoke at the empty spots where Mack and Dwayne should be, but Droege, who not only stars in but also wrote the piece, pulls the choice off with aplomb — in no small part because of the dazzling buffet of facial expressions at his command from moment to moment.” Full Review
"Michael Urie has mounted a very smart show here with the aid of Dara Wishingrad’s colorful set. But it is really Mr. Droege’s trium. I’ve never seen an actor do a better job of populating a scene with unseen characters. And I’ve never laughed so hard. In 'Bright Colors and Bold Patterns,' he creates a wry and wacky comic rainbow." Full Review
“Droege rattles off rapid-fire popular culture references with a coked-up energy that somehow breathes enough to allow his audience to digest and laugh at his outlandish observations...Director Michael Urie has helped Droege nail the pacing, though a montage transition halfway through feels a bit clumsy…Droege teeters on the edge of sentimental with childhood tales of ostracization...but he earns these pauses from breakneck comedy by being vulnerable and truthful.” Full Review
“The reference filled one-man show is essentially a monologue ingeniously disguised as a play...Mr. Droege is simply sensational as Gerry; the performance is a masterclass in impeccable timing and knowing panache. And together with Michael Urie’s flamboyant and insightful direction, ‘Bright Colors and Bold Patterns’ emerges as an hysterical yet poignant portrait of a man fighting for his identity.” Full Review
"Fucking hilarious...Hiller is a star. His collaboration with Urie has resulted in a nuanced and hilarious performance, one where the audience immediately trusts Hiller to take us on a ride with him. His performance is so crystal-clear that even when the writing falters, as it gets serious...we’re still hooked because we’re waiting for his next wisecrack to shut the house down. Urie and Hiller have created extremely clear focal points for each of the other on-stage characters." Full Review
"The tragicomedy of the season...It is to Droege’s immense credit as a playwright and actor that the play is so smooth...An incredible feat: constructing dialogue and performance so immaculately that even nonspeaking invisible roles are full three-dimensional characters...Underneath the hilarity, however, lies poignancy...Gerry is a flawed man. He represents the best and worst of us...Droege creates the world, and Urie colors it. This show is a delight." Full Review
“This is a comic tour de force that will leave your sides aching with laughter and your heart more than a little touched...The script is whip-smart and deliciously satirical...Droege is a masterful performer with flawless timing...Urie’s imaginative staging hits every laugh but doesn’t ignore the more subtle aspects of the script...Gerry is somewhat of a stereotypical character, but it’s so entertaining and Droege is such a wonderful performer you won’t care.” Full Review
“Droege is able to paint a portrait of the other guests he interacts with, even though he’s alone on stage...Droege, is a master of improv...He’s very much like Robin Williams, able to take a scene and make it different every time...He keeps the energy and the laughter at an avalanche speed...Droege shows he’s as vulnerable and sensitive as he is boisterous and over-the-top.” Full Review
"The uproarious Droege in the caustically hilarious and timely new play...The show ruminates over...timeless struggles for equality...Throughout the 80 minutes, Gerry rips through myriad topics from pop culture to his own gripes...Droege is both dazzling and devastating as he fires off gut-busting verbal abuse like a machine gun, but he works just as hard to showcase Gerry’s lonely and disillusioned personal life. Droege has crafted a show that is both relevant and poignant.” Full Review
for a previous production "This riotous solo play luxuriates in that favorite homosexual pastime: throwing shade. As performed by the witty and articulate Droege, it occasionally has the feeling of a high-concept stand-up comedy routine...Director Michael Urie smartly helps Droege maintain a balance between sassiness and nastiness. He slowly and deliberately pushes the boundaries, testing what he can get away with. He's an undoubtedly messy queen, but one that we can't stop watching." Full Review
for a previous production "Gerry is the richly tragicomic creation of Drew Droege, the masterful solo writer-performer...Gerry is, he admits, 'a lot,' and Droege draws his multitudes in a sharply observed and lovingly brutal portrait...Gerry guards old wounds of exclusion and heartbreak, dating back decades, that have made him the spiny puffer he is today, inflated with prickly defenses. That's what gives Droege’s show a poignancy beyond its hilarity." Full Review
for a previous production "In real life, you'd flee the minute you saw him coming, but, as impersonated by Drew Droege, this blitzkrieg of a monologue makes for a pretty hilarious hour and a quarter…Although Droege clearly knows this character inside and out, surely Michael Urie's direction is at least in part responsible for the assured pacing, not to mention the seamless transition to the sadder, more thoughtful final passages…As for Droege, he is definitely a talent whom we'll be seeing again." Full Review
for a previous production "Droege turns his modest, amusing solo turn into something of a bold argument for immodest behavior in an increasingly conventional society. 'Bright Colors and Bold Patterns' is too long...Perhaps as the run reaches its final week, the actor, like the character, is getting carried away. But the turn it eventually takes is worth the wait, helped along by the direction of Michael Urie...Gerry is fleshy, campy, catty, jokey, and, yes, bright and bold, and we’re better off for having met him." Full Review
for a previous production "It is clear that Droege knows from storytelling (as does his director Michael Urie). He is a skillful performer as well as writer and rarely makes a misstep…In between the fun, the funny lines, and the gut-splitting laughs, there are sprinkled some facts…'Bright Colors' is still in its growing stages, and there are a few tweaks to make: clarify a few plot points, snip a bit of text, and sharpen some blocking...Please include me in the next unveiling. Because it will be fabulous and then some." Full Review
for a previous production "Gerry goes on to ramble on about trivial topic after trivial subject..'Bright Colors' is a character study. That’s to say that about 10 minutes before Droege’s 70 minutes end and after Gerry has sniffed cocaine, drunk any number of margaritas, urinated against a wall and regurgitated, he sobers up and reveals what’s really on his mind...Sure, his exposing a lonely, loveless side is something, but it transpires after many spectators may have long since dismissed the giddily prolix fellow." Full Review
for a previous production "Droege varies his writing well, keeping Gerry on a constant if unpredictable track from skepticism to acceptance, and acting-wise imbues him with a delicious flamboyance that's always rooted in the realistic...Urie's staging is simple and stark, and keeps your attention riveted where it belongs...Despite its momentary weak spots, the play surrounding him does an excellent, entertaining job at rendering him in exactly the adventurous palettes and textures that invitation so openly decries." Full Review
See it if you want to have a gay ol' time! I was thrilled to see Jeff Hiller center stage; really get to show his full range. He's a wonderful actor
Don't see it if you hate the gays and our culture. This is such a well-crafted show, but needs a star to make it really sing. Hiller was utterly captivating
See it if you like hyperactive "gay" humor that has been done before (e.g., Mario Cantone) but still entertaining.
Don't see it if you desire humor that is unique, covers a range of topics and styles, and doesn't require an enormous amount of knowledge of pop culture.
See it if You enjoy a well acted, one man show that is a light hearted way to deal with important subjects in the LGBT community
Don't see it if You prefer bigger productions or have no interest in the LGBT community
See it if You want to find out if Bright Colors and Bold Patterns is a synonym for “gay”.
Don't see it if You don’t care to find out.
See it if you enjoy one-man shows about gay men. Good acting. Slow start, but gets better.
Don't see it if you don't like one man shows.
See it if You love funny, over-the-top bitchy gay characters being extra.
Don't see it if Watching a Carson Kressley-esque character bitch for 75 minutes isn’t your thing.
See it if you want a laugh and like 1 man shows with lots of gay references
Don't see it if your not an LGBT fan or have any knowledge of LGBT style. Stay away if not a fan of a 1 man show
Also I waited to see this until now and saw the replacement actor Jeff Hill... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see a hilarious one man performance!
Don't see it if you are not familiar with entertainment world references.
Also Jeff Hiller was simply fantastic!
See it if You love Jeff Hiller and want a light, enjoyable, short night at the theater.
Don't see it if You’re looking for more substance. You have trouble with one man shows (this one is particularly clunky in structure).
See it if for Jeff Hiller!! For deceptive party scene with a real heart of philosophy and anxiety, exploration of self-fulfilling drama queen
Don't see it if Aren't convinced by one man shows structured as dialogue, don't want to spend time with a sometimes less-than-sympathetic character
See it if you want a few laughs, as single gay man talks to three unseen gay men, when they attend the wedding of two other men
Don't see it if talk of drugs, sex and alcohol will not strike your funny bone
See it if Drew Droege was hilarious and perfect
Don't see it if A Critics Pick and directed by Michael Urie--this was hyped to be more than it was. If you like one-person shows, go for it.
See it if one man comedies with a snarky gay story line. It's funny and edgy.
Don't see it if you don't want to see a play exclusively about gay themes.
See it if you want to enjoy a thoughtful, witty, fast-paced, over-the-top (yet authentic) 1-man tour-de-force about being gay in the gay marriage era.
Don't see it if you're easily offended by flamboyant gay patter. [Sure, the character's an insufferable stereotype, but the play has heart & lots of laughs]
Also I saw the play with Jeff Hiller (who is terrific).
See it if you enjoy campy humor and some insight into the sadness behind it.
Don't see it if you do not find humor in gay stereotypes or can't get into an actor speaking to people you cannot see, though he pulls it off well.
See it if you like to see great one man shows that are funny, relevant and entertaining
Don't see it if you don't like gay themes.
See it if You like expertly performed one-person shows that are more character study than cohesive narrative. You are interested in gay culture.
Don't see it if You are easily bored by monologues with little action. You are offended by blunt, gay-focused humor.
See it if you like to laugh. Jeff Hiller is hilarious.
Don't see it if you don't like solo shows.
See it if You want laugh and have a good time.
Don't see it if Gay topic in this show.
See it if you want to see Jeff Hiller be great.
Don't see it if you don't like gay stereotypes.
See it if you like solo shows an great acting
Don't see it if you don't like solo shows
See it if You want to see an incredible performer interact with characters that are not present on stage
Don't see it if You are not interested in a one person show about going to a gay wedding
Also While the actor did an incredible job portraying a gay character the p... Read more Read less
See it if You’re willing to sit through an hour of bad jokes told by an insufferable character in order to get 20 minutes of decent acting
Don't see it if You’re easily offended by talk of homosexuality or sex in general, or if you want to watch a show with characters who aren’t annoying
Also I don’t know if my lack of enjoyment is a generational thing or what. ... Read more Read less
See it if You like gay humor and gay dark humor. Fun satire of gay normalization that rings true makes you reflect on the consequences of progress
Don't see it if You're not interested in gay culture or don't already know a lot about it, since a lot of the humor may be lost on you.
Cast & Creatives (5)
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