Colbert Alembert, Debi Tinsley, Mark Sande, Kiff Scholl, and Greg Ivan Smith in Daniel Hurewitz’s Nancy F***ing Reagan at the Secret Rose Theatre. (Photo by Moses)
Colbert Alembert, Debi Tinsley, Mark Sande, Kiff Scholl, and Greg Ivan Smith in Daniel Hurewitz’s Nancy F***ing Reagan at the Secret Rose Theatre. (Photo by Moses)

Nancy F***ing Reagan

Reviewed by Nikki Munoz
Secret Rose Theatre
Through August 4

Former President Reagan famously didn’t address the AIDS epidemic until the end of his second term. He, along with his wife, Nancy, have been criticized for their inaction on a disease that has caused the death of millions of people, a disproportionate number of them from the LGBTQ community. Written by Daniel Hurewitz and directed by Larry Margo, Nancy F***ing Reagan, tackles this flawed legacy head on, from the perspective of individuals who have been powerfully impacted by the sweeping epidemic.

The story begins the night before David’s (Kiff Scholl) 50th birthday. His best friend, Maggie (Debi Tinsley), hosts him and their friends at her house for a weekend celebration. David’s birthday happens to coincide with the death of former First Lady, Nancy Reagan. As a gay man, David struggles to come to terms with the media attention painting Nancy Reagan as a national treasure. Meanwhile, Maggie, as dean of a university, must deal with a student who is speaking out against a racist professor and threatening to talk to the media about it. Tensions arise among the guests, as they debate Reagan’s complicated place in history, the generational divide within the queer community, and past personal conflicts within the group that are again resurfacing.

Hurewitz’s script takes on tough topics that extend far past Reagan. Not only does it address the lasting impact of AIDS on the LGBTQ community, it also focuses on racism (specifically, institutional racism on college campuses). Unfortunately, these two aspects of the story, linked only because they involve the same characters, do not really mesh. Instead, you have two storylines that more or less run parallel rather than intertwine.

Of the two, the one which explores various attitudes to Nancy Reagan’s death is far superior; it’s well written with a strong arc and a clear trajectory. Each character presents a different viewpoint, with David adamantly objecting to the way that the former first lady is portrayed in the media. He wants to do something about it — make a statement about the lives lost to the AIDS tragedy. Meanwhile, Jason (Greg Ivan Smith) — whom we learn has a complex friendship with David — is more subdued, often opposing David more for its own sake than out of any real principle. Jason’s younger boyfriend, Kenny (Colbert Albert) represents a different generational perspective; he hasn’t lived through the 80s, as both David and Jason have.

Overall, Nancy F***ing Reagan features compelling dialogue and a strong dynamic that draws us in. The characters and their relationships are believable. The rising tension is not only effectively paced, but transfixing. While the play is blatant in its criticism of Reagan’s policy on AIDS, it is also a careful and thoughtful character study that examines how this tragedy continues to affect in the lives of the individuals connected to it. Despite shortcomings in plot and structure, this play lingers in the mind — much like the impact of AIDS still lingers today.

 

Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 W. Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m.; through Aug. 4. nfrnfr.eventbrite.com or at the Secret Rose Theatre box office 30 minutes before performances. Running time: two hours with one 15-minute intermission.