Lambda Players Return to Queer Theatre with Opening Lines

It was 10 years ago that local film reviewer Tom Swanner decided to try his hand at being a playwright. An avid theatre-lover and former professional actor, he approached The Lambda Players and submitted his first script.

A few months later the play, Opening Lines, was playing to sold out houses. Now, on the 10th anniversary of its first reading, Opening Lines is once again taking the stage with an updated script, a cast of Lambda Players’ veteran actors and the return of director Matthew Burlingame (Sordid Lives, Hedwig) at the helm.

“Opening Lines is the only Tom Swanner play I haven’t directed,” Burlingame told Outword. “We’ve collaborated on five shows now and when I heard them kicking around the idea of doing an updated version, I knew I had to direct it.”

Opening Lines lead characters, Chris and Richard are being played by long time Lambda regulars Mahlon Hall (Sordid Lives, The Nun Crashers) and West Ramsey (Make Way For Dyklings, Oscar and Bosie). The two are set up on a blind date by friends only to discover the possibility that love at first site may truly exist.

Returning from the original production is Cynthia Davis who portrayed Diane, Richard’s slightly insane, muscle-relaxer popping best friend and fag-hag. Opposite Davis is Chris’ best friend played by Brian Judd (Paperclip Messiah, The Coming Out Party) who is described as a loud, bitter queen. Davis and Judd turn Diva-ing into an art-form as the two clash in a local coffeehouse.

Rounding out the cast are Miacail Buse (Burnt Fields, Dear Harvey) and Lynnette Blaney (Suddenly Last Summer, Burnt Fields) as Chris’ parents who have come by to meet the new boyfriend.

The only problem is Chris doesn’t know that they know he is gay, and isn’t quite ready to come out to them.

Described as “a sensational comedy” and “one of the best romantic-comedy scripts produced by The Lambda Players,” Opening Lines is the first in a string of plays that are gay-themed, returning the players to their roots.

“We’ve spent the last year or so experimenting with different styles of plays, trying to see what works for us,” said Swanner, who is also The Lambda Players’ artistic director. “Our community is vastly different than it was even 10 years ago. Do you still want to see coming out stories, we asked? The answer we got is ‘yes’. LGBT Sacramento wants to see their lives reflected on our stage, so we’re gonna give it to them.”

To accomplish this, Swanner and Lambda Players’ board president Dave Stewart, who also holds the Mr. Bolt 2009-10 title, enlisted the help of former Artistic Director Matthew Burlingame who retired from the troupe four years ago.

Returning last year to direct the hit comedy Sordid Lives, Burlingame has signed on to direct a minimum of four shows in the upcoming season, including his own play Paperclip Messiah scheduled to open in July and also celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary on The Lambda Players’ stage. The show chronicles a tumultuous love affair between a Catholic priest struggling with inner demons and a down-on-his-luck gay man who takes a job as the parish custodian.

Other shows being discussed for the upcoming season include past Lambda Players’ hits such as Trolling, Coffeehouse, Countess Dracula and several new works by local playwrights. Following Opening Lines will be a Shakespeare adaptation entitled Romeo and Julian.

“We’ve had a tough road the last year with the tight economy, the expense of the new theater space and the shortage of arts grants for California’s arts community,” said Stewart. “We’re also in a city with over 50 competing theater companies who are all struggling to make it. The Lambda Players has survived this long because our community supports the work we do. It’s our job to produce plays worthy of that support and we are committed more than ever to doing that. Opening Lines is just the start.”

Opening Lines will play at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from April 16 through May 22, with no show on May 8. There will be two Sunday matinees, dates of both are to be announced.

Visit www.LambdaPlayers.com for more information.