Monsters of the American Cinema
“Monsters of the American Cinema” is a play by Christian St. Croix that oscillates between the metaphorical (and literal) black and white to deliver a balanced yet thrilling story about love—but not just any old love. This tale explores the unique bond between a gay Black stepfather and his straight white stepson, and the obstacles that their relationship brings.
Set in present-day Santee, California, in an old trailer home, we meet Remy Washington, a dedicated protest sign-maker and the owner of the Good Time Drive-in; and stepson Peter “Pup” Miller, our hormone-fueled co-protagonist with a dark secret.
After losing his husband, Remy is faced with the challenging task of raising a teenaged boy with whom he seemingly shares very little. On the other side, Pup is in the throes of puberty, learning his place in the world. Despite their differences, the two find common ground in their excitement over classic American horror movies like “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”
This show is peppered with references that any avid classics-enjoyer will appreciate.
Throughout the play, it becomes apparent that monsters can exist in real life too; living in a conservative town, Pup finds himself giving in to societal pressures to perform a harmful and borderline destructive version of masculinity, leading him to hurt his loved ones. Despite the trials and tribulations of raising a teenager alone, Remy never wavers on his compassion for Pup, teaching the audience a valuable lesson on empathy and understanding. This story deals with heavy themes of racism and homophobia but still maintains a light tone with well-timed jokes and quips delivered by both characters. What results is a full rainbow of emotions for the audience.
Under the direction of Summer Wallace, Remy Washington is brought to life by Jon Joseph Gentry who exudes enough charisma to fill a stadium. Alongside him, Tyler Gevas portrays Pup, whose emotional range keeps us on our toes from beginning to end. If you would like to experience this play firsthand, there will be multiple showings at the Urbanite Theater in Sarasota from October 31 to December 7. Get your tickets at urbanitetheatre.com.