Broadway Damage (1997)
Seen 30 May 1998 for $8 with Andrea at the Quad Cinema
"Greetings from Greenwich Village" is the subtitle to this bubbly little independent film, written, edited, and directed by Victor Mignatti. Considering it's practically a one-man show, it can be forgiven its flaws. In fact, it's lucky it got made at all, in all likelihood.
*Broadway Damage* presents us with two young people starting out. Marc (Michael Lucas) is a cute young gay man, would-be actor, and Cynthia (Mara Hobel) is his fabulous female friend who does not let more than a few extra pounds get in the way of self-esteem or her dream to work for New Yorker editor Tina Brown. She thinks she's better than entry level, and doesn't try too hard to do anything but try getting an interview with Ms. Brown in a variety of inventive methods.
"Broadway damage" is acting jargon I didn't fully understand, but I think it refers to those would-be actors who are particularly stuck on the idea of performing live on stage. Throughout the film we see Marc and his friend Robert (Aaron Williams) getting feedback from a drama coach as they recite lines or sing. Robert is stuck on Marc and with his goofy Gilligan-style hat and glasses he is the "nerd" role in the movie. While pining away for Marc, he attempts to woo a hunky, bespectacled, Monet-loving, Zola-reading clerk in a kitschy card store.
Meanwhile, Marc falls in love with neighbor David (Hugh Panaro), whom he spots in a backing building visible from his fire escape. Hearing him sing a song helps him fall a bit harder. But David is involved in a relationship, and as the story progresses, David turns out not to be at all what he seems.
*Broadway Damage* is light, fluffy entertainment; it provides a lot of amusing little moments and more than a few stereotypes along the way. But the audience (98% gay) seemed to love it nonetheless. Mara Hobel, best known for playing the Christina Crawford as a child role in Mommie Dearest, is the stereotypical fat girl fag hag; Marc is a "ten" but doesn't think so--"my arms aren't big enough"; Robert loves Sondheim, of course. The movie has a curious throwback quality. Finding an dilapidated apartment via obituaries is something straight out of a 1970s sitcom. Didn't Oscar and Felix have to do this once? Nary a mention of AIDS. Just frivolous amusement all the way. Costumes and interior design are more important here than cinematography, which is rather basic.
I could go on about "why are these people friends?" but why? Yes, it's odd that they are friends but no one knows the clothes hound Cynthia comes from a family that's stinkin' rich. But it's all so amusing--at least at the time. Broadway Damage shows young people starting out in life and love. Mostly gay. Hearts broken and rebuilt along the way. Possibly the biggest problem they have in life is a mouse and rat problem in their hovel. It doesn't take itself too seriously and neither should you. Go and enjoy it. Class dismissed.
TOILET NOTE: There were just three women in this audience, and they were thrilled to discover that for once, there was no long line at the Ladies' Room. A once-in-a-lifetime event.
More movie reviews by Seth Bookey, with graphics, can be found at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2679/kino.html
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