This provocative political comedy from Canada will be performed Wednesday, July 1 at 7 pm. Van Hoorn’s cast will include Rebecca Carver (Evelyn), Emily Cox (Candy), Chip Joyce (Robert), Skyler McNeely (Bernie), Pauline Parkhurst (Benita), Andrew Rhodenbaugh (David), Andrew Schoepke (Kane), and Autumn Vandeven (Jerri), each of whom will perform from their own homes. This is the sixth such live online play reading presented by Pride Films and Plays since COVID-19 restrictions have prevented in-person performances. It will be the company’s second reading of the week of June 28, following THE LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE, to be performed on Sunday, June 28 at 7 pm.
Top Row L-R: Rebecca Carver, Emily Cox, Chip Joyce, Skyler McNeely.
Lower Row L-R: Pauline Parkhurst, Andrew Rhodenbaugh, Andrew Schoepke, Autumn Vandeven.
UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS AND THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE is a sexually charged thriller that was first presented at the playRites '89 Festival in Calgary, Alberta. While it was immediately controversial for its violence, nudity, frank dialogue, and sexual explicitness, it received critical acclaim and was named one of the 10 best plays of the year by TIME Magazine. Using and subverting elements of various genres, including thriller, situation comedy and grade-B horror film, the piece is written with cynical humor, but is serious in tone. It follows the lives of several sexually frustrated "thirty-somethings" and one teenager who try to learn the meaning of love — during a time in which a serial killer is terrorizing the city.
Fraser’s play has been presented around the world. The 1991 off-Broadway production included in its cast the future Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell, alongside Clark Gregg, who would go on to play agent Phil Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies IRONMAN, CAPTAIN MARVEL, and THE AVENGERS. It was adapted for the screen in a 1993 release titled LOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS.
Van Hoorn notes the relevance of this 31-year-old play to today. “The play takes place in 1989 and the threat of a very different virus looms over the characters, with misinformation being spread about who can and can't catch it. Characters say the city feels abandoned to them, and they cope with these feelings of loneliness and isolation in quite different ways: some of them healthy, some of them very toxic and horrifically violent. But despite all of this bleakness, the second half of the play offers hope as it proposes a picture of ‘the true meaning of love,’ as suggested by the second half of the title.
Ticket price for the reading is $10.00. Tickets are available at www.pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222.
LISTING INFORMATION
UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS AND THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE
By Brad Fraser
Directed by Jacob Van Hoorn
Live stream on Wednesday, July 1 - 7:00 pm
$10.00
Tickets available at www.pridearts.org
Shocking when it first premiered in 1989, this Canadian work follows the lives of several sexually frustrated "thirty-somethings" and one teenager who try to learn the meaning of love — during a time in which a serial killer is terrorizing the city. Candy is a heterosexual woman trying to meet the perfect man but who along the way finds herself experimenting with lesbianism; her gay roommate David no longer believes that love exists; Kane is a sexually confused teenager who idolizes David; Bernie is David's troubled best friend; and Jerri is a lesbian who falls in love with Candy. Overlooking the proceedings is the otherworldly Benita, a prostitute with psychic abilities.
ABOUT PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS
Pride Films and Plays is working to produce year-round theater and film projects that change lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that are essential viewing for all audiences. The company produces a season of full productions and was recently honored with seven Jeff award nominations for the 2019-20 season and continues our famed play developmental projects. Pride Films and Plays is the principal tenant in Pride Arts Center.
Pride Arts Center produces events complementing the Pride Films and Plays vision, including dance, cabaret, film, and more. Events can be one-night or limited run productions or feature national treasures like Charles Busch. PAC occupies The Broadway at 4139 N. Broadway, which has 85 seats, and The Buena, which has 50 seats at 4147 N Broadway.
Pride Films and Plays is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago’s City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, Proud to Run, The Pauls Foundation, The Heath Fund, The Service Club of Chicago, the AmazonSmile Foundation, Arts and Business Foundation, Tap Root Foundation, Arts and Business Council, and Alphawood Foundation.
Pride Films and Plays is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. Pride Films and Plays is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Northhalsted Business Association, Uptown United, and The League of Chicago Theatres.
For more information, visit www.pridearts.org or call 1.773 857 0222.