A fictionalized look at the quiet life of Edgar Hellum, a closeted man in his nineties who did pioneering work in historic preservation in a small, mid-western town. More…
'The Pattern at Pendarvis' tells the story of a man who just happened to be gay in an era long before Stonewall and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." It deals with contemporary gay identity issues through the eyes of a man who spent his life in the closet.
See it if Young scholar learns of life 'before Stonewall" from closeted 'activist' Fine ensemble led by poignant Merritt but cultural steward theme ??
Don't see it if Slow going & a travelogue (20 min) until homophobic curator's outburst Finding true tempo it becomes moving & a plea for generational equity
See it if Poignant tale of an older gay man being interviewed for a book. Will he share how he & his lover built Pendaris? Touching & heartwarming.
Don't see it if You're looking for a musical. Show runs 70 minutes. All 3 cast members are excellent.
See it if Like a subtly staged, imagined intrvw re closeted life of gays in midwest and their unsung societal contributions. Quiet drama, nicely told
Don't see it if Not interested in subject matter, think you'd be bored w 3 people in chairs & little to no action, find historical and cultural refs dull.
Also The acting is very good, especially Lawrence Merritt playing the late ... Read more Read less
See it if A gem. Famous gay historic preservationist tells of restoring miners' homes in Wis. All of it done with male partner in the 1930s closet.
Don't see it if Very handsome author/interviewer wants to know about being gay in the 30s and 40s. But museum honcho wants to keep the gay angle covered up
See it if A quiet, thoughtful play about antiques, restoration, and being gay in a small town spanning the 20th century. Slower pace. Fantastic actors
Don't see it if You seek a high energy show with set and costume changes, or a musical, or the topic of being gay in America is not of interest
See it if You're looking for a show with LGBTQ+ themes. You enjoy plays that are based on interviews.
Don't see it if You are looking for a big production.
See it if to see how two gay men lived prior to Stonewall, like interview type shows, see history woven to a show.
Don't see it if You don't like interview type show, are not patient (slow and you don't get the full gist of it until about 20 min of show) are homophobic.
See it if .. you're interested in an esoteric corner of LGBT history. Intimate storytelling. I would have liked more exposition.
Don't see it if ...you're not interested in LGBT history
See it if You like to learn about a gay man’s struggle wt the society back in the day, how they tried to fit in &their story told through an interview
Don't see it if You like bigger production/cast, not interested in gay community, their dilemma just to fit in the community.The risk that they have taken
Also The play starts out slow but as it goes the drama unfolds, the sufferi... Read more Read less
See it if you are moved by stories about an older gay man at odds with his repressive era; you like plays set in the past
Don't see it if you don't like static action (3 men seated throughout), don't care about the struggles of closeted gay men -- or if you prefer musicals
Also Though I enjoyed this play & I was moved by the theme, it would have h... Read more Read less
See it if An absorbing look at bygone closeted days of a gay elder.
Don't see it if Not overly dramatic this biplay will not interest those tired of gay stories
See it if You want to see a touching, simple piece about the life of a closeted (or glass-closeted) gay man.
Don't see it if You are expecting something that feels like a real play. As lovely as it often is, it’s basically just a fictitious interview.
Also This is a nice, poignant work. It’s easy to envision the premise makin... Read more Read less
See it if the touching story of a closeted gay man from an earlier era interests you. You want to see a stunning performance by an elderly actor.
Don't see it if you are looking for a typical play rather than an interview. If gay themes don’t interest you.
Also I found this play slow. The main draw is Lawrence Merritt’s performanc... Read more Read less
See it if You enjoy biographical interviews with witty conversations and lively stories when talking about serious topics
Don't see it if You just want to be entertained or crave for intensity
See it if you would like to meet a man whose devotion to a cause (preservation) and to another man had a lasting impact.
Don't see it if you dislike quiet, thoughtful plays that are built on reminicence and reveal character slowly.
See it if you like shows that consist of dialog, or those that address homosexuality and social mores of earlier times.
Don't see it if you expect a show to deliver a full or profound experience with well-crafted dialog, elaborate sets and scene changes.
Also There is a kernel of genuinely interesting material here, but it feels... Read more Read less
See it if you like queer history, you like personal narratives, you like plays based on true stories
Don't see it if you're homophobic, you don't like personal narratives
See it if you don't want to risk missing an outstanding turn by actor Lawrence Merritt. His nuanced performance ultimately touched me deeply.
Don't see it if plays with gay themes are not on your agenda.
Also The play is poignant, informative and well-written. Even though its br... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see a gifted storyteller. Lawrence Merritt is EVERYTHING! Couldn't take my eyes away! Overall, great acting and touching show
Don't see it if you're not comfortable being drawn into a narrative. This is classic, simple draw-you-in storytelling done by a master.
See it if you're interested in how society has shifted around LGBT visibility and homophobia. Lawrence Merritt was terrific as the 90something man
Don't see it if you need a perfect play. It's well meaning and interesting but a little inside its own head. Too much exposition in first half
See it if You enjoy story time as an adult, you don't mind possibly crying at the end.
Don't see it if You prefer a fast paced comedy or action packed production
See it if You're interested in seeing how much the LGBT community has moved forward in the last 100 years
Don't see it if You don't like slow plays or small productions
See it if a beautifully written tale of an unsung hero of gay America, in a moving production, excellently acted, is your cup of tea.
Don't see it if you like loud, in your face, mind-numbing drivel.
See it if you think you'll be charmed by a staged interview with an elderly restaurateur, restorer of houses & 1-half of a pioneering gay male couple.
Don't see it if you need more drama than even a charming staged interview can provide.
Also This play is a staged interview. In 1997 a young gay writer interviews... Read more Read less
See it if you want a mostly pleasant and touching 90 minutes with three good actors in a true story that is presented with warmth and heart. See it!
Don't see it if you are looking for a lot of action - this is a parlor scene interview.