June is Pride Month, the perfect time for a screwball comedy about a gay couple and a lesbian couple navigating their lives in an era when same-sex relationships were illegal. Topher Payne’s Perfect Arrangement provides plenty of social criticism but you’ll be laughing too. We asked John Heimbuch, Artistic Director for the Walking Shadow Theatre Company, for his top reasons to see the play. Make plans quickly because it will only be at the Crane Theater until June 21. Get tickets here. Take it away, John:
1. In this Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne, the year is 1950, and Bob and Norma are government workers responsible for removing communist sympathizers from the State Department. But when homosexuals become their next target, their own loyalties are put to the test: Bob and Norma are both queer, and in straight-passing marriages with each other’s partners! Bob is married to Norma’s partner Millie, and Norma is married to Bob’s partner Jimmy. But when their boss and his wife come to dinner, and old secrets re-appear, there’s no telling how much longer this “perfect arrangement” can last. This delightfully clever play was inspired by real historic events and popular domestic sitcoms like I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
2. There’s no better time to learn about LGBTQ+ history than Pride Month! “Perfect Arrangement” was inspired by the Lavender Scare, in which the U.S. Government was being purged of people who were considered “sexual deviants.” This was an important moment in American history that helped pave the way for the queer liberation movements of the 1950s and 1960s.
3. Theatre has a powerful capacity to respond to real-world issues, and the Twin Cities have a truly incredible live performance scene, with a wealth of talented artists. This production features an extraordinary team of local actors and designers, all working at the top of their game!
4. Walking Shadow Theatre Company’s mission is to explore the heights and depths of human capacity. They’ve been making independent theatre in the Twin Cities since 2004, and have earned a reputation for staging incisive modern comedies and dramas that inspire conversations about contemporary issues.
5. Money is no barrier! All ticket prices are on a sliding scale and audiences can pay as they are able. There are also $15 Economic Accessibility and Free Student tickets available for every performance, and a Pay What You Can Industry Night when audiences can pay whatever they like. But with a capacity of only 80 seats, reservations are encouraged for all performances! They can be made at walkingshadow.org.
