Nora Burns’ provocative, funny, sassy, and more-than-just-a-little-bit-naughty play The Village! A Disco Daydream, directed by Adam Pivirotto, takes place in the heady and hedonistic Greenwich Village of 1979– which, as one of the characters points out early on, was VERY different than it is in 2024.  The setting (Cue Amii Stewart’s Knock on Wood here…) is a unique snapshot of history which was on the cusp of morphing into the mysterious new decade of the ’80’s.  The Village! alternates nights at Manhattan’s SoHo Playhouse with David’s Friend, Burns’ other play taking place in the same era.  Both of Burns’ pieces, based upon her own personal experiences as a nightlife mover-and-shaker, deal with such titillating subjects as gay liberation, sex work, orgies, and drugs. (If you’re under 40, be prepared to Google what a “Quaalude” is…) Both shows namedrop a lot of cultural touchstones, including but not limited to venues both big (Fiorucci, Studio 54) and small (Tiffany: “The diner in the West Village, not the store!”).  And, both plays deal with both the highs and lows of being young and free in New York City when disco ruled.  But The Village! is definitely more about the highs than the lows.  The play becomes, in a sense, a self-fulfilling prophecy for those of us who remember an age before cell phones: As our hilariously all-knowing narrator (Glace Chase) constantly reminds the audience via a running joke, many of us remember New York as being much more exciting “back in the day”.  We remember the unapologetically free sexuality, fabulous fashions, and lower rents… while forgetting the muggings, the V.D., and the far less enlightened views of LGBTQ people by society at large.  One of the characters also pointed out that the sense of “danger” of vintage New York City only added to the vibe of sexiness and excitement.

And so… we meet the colorful cast of characters in this “Village”: Harold (Antony Cherrie) is a big-hearted, hunky hustler with a Scottish accent, better known by a nickname which makes no mystery about his occupation: Trade.  Trade lives with his, uhm… “benefactor” “Old” George (Chuck Blasius)– a 50-something, well-to-do man who tolerates Trade’s sexual escapades.  There’s also Trade’s best gal pal Lisa (Ashley Chavonne), a pretty, free-spirited, self-proclaimed “fag hag”; and Petey, a gender-fluid force of nature.  Played by Eileen Dover, Petey gets many of the best (and bitchiest) one-liners.  The characters are mostly concerned about sex, drugs, and disco… all in varying levels.  What do they do during the day? One character tells us: “Let’s TALK ABOUT tonight until it’s time to GO OUT tonight!” This family of choice is soon joined by two new characters: an innocent, wide-eyed NYU student named Steven-with-a-V (Drew Timberlake Hill), who has just arrived in the Gay Apple; and, later, Jason (Kevin Boseman) a libidinous delivery man/med student/DJ who raises the other characters’ carnal desires to new levels. But yes, Virginia, there IS a plot: Trade must decide if he wants to continue his sexually liberated lifestyle, or explore the possibilities of a budding relationship with Steven.  Could L-O-V-E be in the air? The play’s main characters get some back-up adornment from two hard-working dancers (Chris Patterson-Rosso and Jack Barrow), both of whom offer some impressive moves (largely thanks to choreography by Robin Carrigan) and some equally impressive thigh eye candy.  

As mentioned before, The Village! is all about the comic situations, meta in-jokes, humorous wordless acting, and such naughty lines as “You can lead a whore to culture but you can’t make her think!” and “Who is this hooker and what slut bar did you pick her up in?”   One of the characters, whose face we never see, is actually named “Junkie Jane” (!). The play occasionally ventures into the over-the-top territory of the Theater of the Ridiculous. Director Adam Pivirotto inserts many creative directorial touches, both musical and visual, into the mix… but it’s all just to keep the laughs coming.  The cast is all fine at comedy, both individually and as an ensemble cast– and it is clear they are really having fun with this production, particularly Chavonne as the party girl Lisa, Chase as the show’s commandeering MC, and the dynamic go-go boy duo of Chris Patterson-Rosso and Jack Barrow.

Comic intentions aside, Ms. Burns’ play couldn’t and didn’t ignore the plague which was slowly hitting the gay male community as the ’80’s approached.  The final act of The Village! transports the plot to 1994. when two of the main characters sadly have died too young: one from AIDS and one from leukemia.  Even with some heartstring-tugging dialogue, the final moments are more life affirming than “heavy”, with an important message about living life to the fullest.  There’s also a reminder to share the stories about people who are no longer with us and places which are no longer around– without constantly reminding your younger friends and family members about “how much better it was back then”, of course!  Start by taking them to see The Village! A Disco Daydream.  

The Village! A Disco Daydream is being presented as part of a special double bill this summer with David’s Friend. The cast features Jack Barrow, Chuck Blasius, Kevin Boseman, Glace Chase, Ashley Chavonne, Antony Cherrie, Eileen Dover, JMV, Chris Patterson Rosso, and Drew Timberlake Hill. The Village! features choreography by Robin Carrigan, sets by Steven Hammel, and costumes by Paul Alexander. The shows will run in rep through Saturday, August 10. Tickets, which are $36 per show or a package of both for $60, are available at www.sohoplayhouse.com.

Photos by Noah Fecks.