San Francisco Chronicle - Friday, October 13, 2000
Jose Antonio Vargas

Last March, NCTC staged a series of preview performances and asked teens, social workers, educators, parents, politicians, law enforcement officers and social service agency representatives for their feedback. Some changes were made and a few local references were added to better fine-tune the play before it tours schools this year. Adds Talya Brosh, NCTC's educational programs coordinator, "It's the first of its kind in this area. The play has gone through the mill, and I'm very proud of it. There's a real need for a play like this, and I've already got a list of teachers waiting to see it." So far, in-house performances at the NCTC have been given at San Francisco's Mission and Galileo high schools, among others. The play's school tour began Oct. 3 at North Marin Continuation High School and ends Nov. 16 at Redwood High School in Larkspur. By the end of the tour, students from San Francisco, the East Bay, Marin, and the counties of Modesto, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada City and Placerville will see the play. Decker says he plans to continue touring "Closet" for at least four more years. After last week's benefit performance for the Gay-Straight Alliance Network of Northern California, a youth-led organization supporting more than 130 Gay-Straight Alliance groups in Northern California, students in attendance were quick to comment on the stereotypical (a leather-wearing lesbian; a flamboyant, effeminate gay man) portrayal of characters in the play. "I think the stereotypes presented in the play build stereotypes in the queer community and people's perceptions of the queer community," complained 16-year-old Lizzie Cohen, a junior at Lincoln High School in San Jose. "But in some ways, I think it could be groundbreaking for some people who haven't dealt with issues of homophobia."

Christin Dietkus, 17, of Miramonte High School in Orinda, agreed. "It was good in terms of getting the message across, but I also thought it reinforced stereotypes and didn't necessarily represent the queer community adequately." Both teens also noted that showing the play is a "positive step" in educating their peers about homophobia and intolerance. "Whenever you try to put issues out in a really short period of time, you rely on those stereotypes in order to make the point. The show uses those stereotypes in a really quick, hard-hitting way in order to make a point," says Carolyn Laub, founder and director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network of Northern California.

She adds, "I think the real learning comes in the discussion afterward when the actors can bring up the fact that the stereotypes in the show are not really the way everyone is in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community." As for the play's effectiveness, Laub says, "This play will speak to some people, but there's also some people who it won't speak to -- that's just the way it is." "This play can't address all the answers," responds Decker. "It has to be looked at as a piece of the puzzle.

"Whatever we are -- straight, gay, transgender, whatever -- we've all felt different, alone, confused, discriminated against in some way. That's something that's common to everybody," she says. "We (should) get past the sexual orientation issues and realize that tolerance, human dignity and respect should not be difficult concepts for people to understand. This play, hopefully, will provoke people to begin communicating with each other and elevating our understanding as a whole community."

ON STAGE

The New Conservatory Theater Center's production of "The Other Side of the Closet" tours theaters, schools, conferences, detention centers, youth shelters, community centers and other social-service facilities. Tour booking costs are largely underwritten by NCTC sponsors. Booking inquiries are accepted throughout the year. Contact Talya Brosh at (415) 861-4914 Ext. 109. E-mail comments to nbayfriday@sfgate.com.

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