LIHU‘E — “8,” a new play chronicling the federal trial for marriage equality, will make its Hawaiian debut Oct. 13 in Lihu‘e. Written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black,
LIHU‘E — “8,” a new play chronicling the federal trial for marriage equality, will make its Hawaiian debut Oct. 13 in Lihu‘e.
Written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black, the play premiered on Broadway in September 2011. Using actual court transcripts, first-hand observations and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families, the 80-minute trial reenactment presents both sides of the debate surrounding marriage rights for gay and lesbian Americans.
The Lihu‘e reading, directed by local actor Ross Martineau, begins at 7 p.m. at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center. It is the first of just three scheduled readings throughout the state.
“It’s going to be great,” Martineau said. “I have been really lucky with this cast.”
Cast members include household names like David Penhallow Scott, Ron Wood, Jeff Demma, Jennifer Downs, Laurie Aguayo and Arnold Meister, who Martineau describes as “the father of theater in Kaua‘i.”
“I like to think of it as sort of the Kaua‘i starry version of the reading,” Martineau said. “Los Angeles had George Clooney and Brad Pitt. I have Arnold Meister and Ron Wood.”
Sponsored by AFER and Broadway Impact, the reading is being put on locally by the YWCA of Kaua‘i, Lambda Aloha, PFLAG Kaua‘i and Malama Pono.
“We are working as a little coalition to make this happen and bring it to the island,” Martineau said. “It’s an important issue.”
Like most across the country, the Oct. 13 production will be followed by a community talk-back, during which the cast and audience members will have an opportunity to discuss the issues presented in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8.
“The talk-back is open to anything that the audience wants to talk about … their feelings of what they just saw, the reading, whether it changed anyone’s mind,” Martineau said.
“I really welcome the debate.”
While the goal of “8” is to show that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right, audience members will hear the best arguments and testimony from both sides.
Renae Hamilton, executive director of the YWCA of Kaua‘i, will act as panel moderator during the community talk back. She says the issues involved in the same-sex marriage debate coincide with the YWCA’s commitment to equality and eliminating violence in all its forms.
“It (marriage equality) is no different that any other civil right issue,” she said. “We (YWCA) will do whatever we can to try and diminish anything that would encourage bullying or treating people differently.”
Other panel members during the discussion will include Martineau and the Rev. Bill Miller of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.
Both Martineau and Hamilton encourage the public, especially those with questions, to attend and be part of the one-night-only reading and discussion.
“I think it’s important, to have a more thorough understanding of the legality of it and really understand the concept of a civil right and what does that mean as we try to wrestle with personal beliefs, religious or otherwise,” Hamilton said. “I hope that this will give more information and continue the discussion.”
Martineau says one thing he likes most about the play is that it portrays the four plaintiffs in the case less as homosexuals and more as human beings.
“We are talking about human rights here,” he said. “We are talking about equality and it’s something that has been fought for on many levels.”
Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door and are available at YWCA in Lihu‘e, Scotty’s Music and Healthy Hut in Kalaheo, Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe and Larry’s Music in Kapa‘a.
• Chris D’Angelo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or lifestyle@thegardenisland.com.
