New York producer Doug Nevin was so impressed by the 2011 drama The Homosexuals, by About Face Theatre Artistic Associate Philip Dawkins, that he commissioned a new play from the Chicago playwright. Five years later, About Face Theatre presents Dawkin's world premiere romantic comedy Le Switch in association with Nevin.
"We had talked about the next issue, because The Homosexuals was very much about [one gay Midwestern guy's journey through the years] 2000 to 2010," Dawkins said. "We questioned what the next story was for the LBGTQIA community beyond 2010 and we started thinking about marriage equality."
Even though same-sex marriage in America only existed piecemeal at the time depending on individual states, Dawkins felt the tide was turning toward nationwide legalization. With the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality, Dawkins is glad that he steered Le Switch in that direction.
"I picked a romantic comedy in the age of marriage equality," Dawkins said. "What happens when the things that were always kept from you due to changes in society are now available and how does that affect you?"
Le Switch centers on a commitment-shy New Yorker named David ( Stephen Cone, a filmmaker and original cast member of The Homosexuals ) who is thrown for a loop by "wedding fever" among his gay friends. David's grieving activist roommate, Frank ( Mitchell Fain ), is a complication. So is David's unexpectedly head-over-heels-in-love heterosexual twin sister Sarah, played by Elizabeth Ledo, who was another original cast member of The Homosexuals.
Romantic entanglements ensue when David follows his best friend, Zachary ( La Shawn Banks ), to Montreal for a bachelor party. David soon falls for the young Quebecois florist Benoît ( Collin Quinn Rice ) and must navigate the different commitment landscape with marriage as a real possibility.
"In terms of a relationship, how do you hang onto your personal identity where you're part of a community that gets accepted into a larger community?" said Dawkins talking about recent changes in American queer identity. "The play takes place very specifically in locations that are hugely proud of their independence, but are also part of a larger thing that causes friction around those environments."
Along with language and age differences, Dawkins points out that the romance between David and Benoît is affected by the relative newness of marriage equality in America compared to Canada, where it has been legal in all its provinces since 2005.
Though Nevin helped to bring aboard New York director Stephen Brackett to helm Le Switch for About Face Theater ( Brackett's most prominent credit is Jonathan Tolins' acclaimed 2013 off-Broadway comedy Buyer and Cellar ), Dawkins said he had ultimate casting approval. In addition to having Stephen Cone playing David, Dawkins is especially happy to have lesbian actress Elizabeth Ledo aboard to play Sarah for their third world premiere together. Ledo recently appeared in Dawkins' new transgender play Charm for Northlight Theatre in Steppenwolf Theatre's Garage space.
"I will always do a Philip Dawkins play if he wants me to because I know there's going to be value in it and I know it's going to be something exciting and I'm going to learn something from it," Ledo said. "I'm always happy to give my energy and artistry to his work."
Nonetheless, Ledo isn't averse to comically goading Dawkins to write a leading role for her in the future after taking on all the supporting ones she's played so far. Ledo joked that she and Dawkins tried to work out how his play The Homosexuals would have played out if it featured a cast of lesbians instead.
Ledo also says that Le Switch is personally resonating for her. Ever since marriage equality became legal nationwide in America, Ledo and her long-time partner have been repeatedly pressured to tie the knot.
"What we have now isn't broke," said Ledo, happy that marriage is an option now but maybe not one that fits for her and her partner at the moment. "It's something I'm very aware of, so I really appreciate what Philip is exploring in this and I know we've talked a lot about because we happened to be friends rather than just as artists and I know we've both talked a lot about why do we need to get married? I love being a part of this dialogue."
About Face Theatre's world-premiere production of Philip Dawkins' Le Switch plays from Friday, Jan. 15, through Sunday, Feb. 21, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Preview performances run through Thursday, Jan. 21, with an official press opening 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22.
Call 773-404-7336 or visit www.aboutfacetheatre.org .
