My Funny Valentine (ZeeZee Theatre)
I have a soft spot for GLBT issues as well as for thoughtful theatre. At the same time, I have a very emotional linkage to Valentine’s Day as it is a day where I celebrate the people I love (and lucky for me, with someone I love very, very much). So, when I was approached to write about (and to give away a pair of tickets to the opening night of) My Funny Valentine, I immediately said yes. Several themes that are relevant to me are intertwined in this play: gay-bullying, bigotry and hatred (someone I love very much was gay-bashed a couple of years ago), Valentine’s Day and raising awareness, as well as theatre.
My Funny Valentine is a one-man play about the impact of hate crime and violence on a community. The story is based on the 2008 murder of Lawrence King, an openly gay teen in Oxnard, California. King was shot and killed by his classmate, Brandon McInerney, just days after he asked McInerney to be his Valentine. King died two days later in hospital, on Valentine’s Day.
My Funny Valentine gives voice to six fictional characters that are forever impacted by a tragic death, illustrating the ripple effect of hate crime on communities. This is particularly important now as Vancouverites come to terms with gay hate crime that occurs on our own city. King’s case is also becoming a topic of discussion again, as a hearing has been set for April 4 to set a trial date for McInerney. Once again, people are asking, what will it take to make society safe for everyone?
Featuring Kyle Cameron, created by Dave Deveau and directed by Cameron Mackenzie (Zee Zee Theatre), My Funny Valentine will be at the PAL Theatre from April 14th through April 24th (more information and tickets here).
To win a pair of tickets to a showing of My Funny Valentine on Saturday April 16th at the PAL Theatre, all you need to do is post a comment here telling me about how you spent Valentine’s Day this year. I will draw a random winner from all Twitter and comment entries on April 14th at 5pm. I will arrange for the winner to have their tickets at the box office at the PAL Theatre on opening night.
To gain an additional entry (in case you are on Twitter) you can post the following on your Twitter stream:
Told @hummingbird604 how I spent Valentine’s Day 2 enter 2 win tickets 2 My Funny Valentine http://ow.ly/4uGBp. How did u spend yours?
I love Valentine’s Day as well – it’s my birthday and I have been blessed with a partner that is monumentally cool that I can share it with.
Very keen on seeing this play. Raising GLBT awareness is ace in my book.
I’m not a big fan of commercial holidays so spent the day just like I would any other day filled with fun activities. Every day is special!
This year, I spent my Valentine by playing a song that I made for my boyfriend, and he presented me with his own song that he wrote, made a beat for, and put in a CD (http://prjustinne.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/loves-journey/). We always make something for each other every Valentine’s Day, and I really loved the charm and “aww” factor of his homemade gift. We had dinner as well, of course!
ps. I love theatre too 😉
I did the usual last Valentines… flipped channels and then fell asleep on the couch. Single sux.
I was out of town for Valentines day but had pre-ordered my partner a CandyGram from Loving spoonful. it was a major hit!
Please help me take my mom and aunty to this play 🙂
We saw the play last night and I highly recommend it! It’s poignant and intimate, a well acted and crafted piece of theatre. Support Vancouver’s queer theatre and see My Funny Valentine.
Cheers!
Brian Knox McGugan