LAST SUMMER THIS SUMMER
Written in 1976 by the late Jane Chambers, Last Summer at Bluefish Cove — which opened in 1980, NYC — is a milestone in lesbian theatre history. Chambers’ name is legend as a daring playwright who put lesbian writing on stage before it was widely accepted to have out lesbians in public, let alone be depicted with a sense of normalcy. This story is a study of lesbian relationships — three couples, including a couple of former lovers — who meet every summer at an isolated beach resort, Bluefish Cove. The annual vacation is unsettled by two events. First is the arrival of Eva Margolis (Lindsay LaVanchy), a heterosexual woman who has just left her husband and is unaware that the cabin she has rented is intended for lesbians who value their privacy. Second is the fact that Lil (Ann Sonneville), a popular woman in the group of friends, is suffering from terminal cancer (Chambers herself had cancer during the play’s L.A. run; she succumbed to a brain tumor in 1983). Eva is a timid, naïve, and high-strung woman who has finally mustered the courage to leave her highly controlled and passionless marriage, emboldened by feminist thinker and cove vacationer Kitty (Sarah Scott Davis), the author of The Female Sexual Imperative, whose ideology paved the way for Eva’s accidental arrival at Bluefish Cove. Eva meets cute with wry, sarcastic Lil, who’s fishing off the rocks at the cove, and thus begins a tale of awakening, love, and personal tragedy.
Lindsay LaVanchy and Ann Sonneville
I saw the original L.A. production, and the amazing performance of a then-unknown Jean Smart still remains with me. Now in a 40th-anniversary revival by The Fountain Theatre (during which Ms. Smart will join original cast members for a Q&A following the July 15 performance), the play stays memorable for its deep feelings and realistic situation. It remains producible given eight meaty roles for women, plenty of piquant ribald humor (especially when the women try to act straight when Eva is invited to a party by Lil), sharply defined true-to-life characters, and a good deal of truthfulness in its observations of a certain class of people — upper-middle-class Manhattan lesbians who can afford summer rental cottages in the beach colonies along Long Island Sound. Well, there is one gold digger character, Donna (Stephanie Pardi), a bratty beauty who takes advantage of wealthy heiress Sue (Stasha Surdyke).
Stasha Surdyke and Stephanie Pardi
For the late ’70s, it makes perfect sense that Kitty is a hypocrite — a homosexual preaching to straight women about sex, a lesbian afraid to come out of the closet because it might hurt her writing career. But now it feels a bit dated and sudsy. Sadly, Bluefish Cove hasn’t been replaced by newer and better plays about lesbians. At its core, it’s a made-for-TV melodrama that manipulates us with tear-jerking plot twists and glorifies the search for personal fulfillment at the expense of all but the most rudimentary and self-centered social consciousness. Still, while the script indulges itself on occasion, and despite uneven moments, Bluefish Cove is a thoughtful and entertaining tale.
Nicole Messier, Stasha Surdyke, Sarah Scott Davis, Tamika Katon-Donegal,
Ann Sonneville (obscured on couch), Stephanie Pardi and Ellen D. Williams
By far, the most amazing thing about this production is the setting in The Fountain Theatre’s parking lot. With the sun beginning its descent at the top of the show (all performances are at 7pm), and with a backdrop of flora swaying in the chilly breeze, it’s a setting that could only be topped by actually being at the beach (the fantastic setting of a cutaway cabin is by Desma Murphy). But while the dialogue remains fresh, something is amiss. Unfortunately, we have to wear non-directional headphones, which means it can be difficult to focus on just who is speaking. And under Hannah Wolf’s direction, this meant sacrificing subtlety in the scenework for a perfect setting. That said, it’s still possible for you to have an unimpeded examination of important human issues — Eva’s and Lil’s journeys, in particular, are challenging and emotionally rewarding.
Lindsay LaVanchy and Ellen D. Williams
photos by Ken Sawyer Photography
Last Summer at Bluefish Cove
Fountain Theatre Outdoor Stage, 5060 Fountain Ave.
Fri thru Mon at 7
ends on August 27, 2023
for tickets ($25 – $45), call 323.663.1525 or visit Fountain Theatre
Pay-What-You-Want and regular seating is available Mondays