Review:Yank, Evolution Theatre Company

Evolution Theatre Company’s production of “Yank” cannot seem to make up its mind about what it wants to be. 

   The overall disjointedness of this piece stems from a schizophrenic script.  The scenarios from author/lyricist David Zellnik flit back and forth among committed homosexuals who are trying to be good soldiers, folks who can’t decide whether they are gay or straight, over-the-top flaming queen caricatures who hang out in the typing pool pretending to be characters from “Gone With The Wind”, bi-sexuals who exploit whatever situation they are in, everyday non-descript heterosexuals who may or may not be willing and able to put personal prejudices aside to soldier on and do the right thing in combat.  

   The  author adds to the confusion by including wrinkles of WW II era societal mores opposing homosexuality. Military regulations punishing homosexual behavior lift the chaos over the top. 

   I might have tolerated this better had the author excluded the hackneyed, cliche, flaming queen bits.  Perhaps these were intended to be portrayed as dream sequences in the central character's imagination.  If that was the case, it failed due to poor staging and ineffective lighting design.  

   The script contains elements for a good story about how gay soldiers who were sincere in their love tried to juggle their relationships in a world that did not understand them and refused to support them even though they were just as dedicated to serving the military and their fellow soldiers as their heterosexual brothers.  But the essence and sincerity of that story drowns in all the extraneous garbage.

   There are three or four pleasant songs in Joseph Zellnik’s score, but I found most of the tunes boring. The off-pitch, un-tuned stylings from the band didn’t help.  

   In my opinion, the skills and abilities of excellent actors such as Nick Hardin (Stu), Will Macke (Mitch), Jeb Bigelow (Sarge/Scarlett, etc.), Jessica Siler Lehner (Louise/HelenRay/ Denah, etc.), Doug Joseph (Melanie, Dame, MP) and Brent Fabian (Artie) are wasted on this script. 

   My research indicates that this show got good reviews and award nominations when it first played in New York.  It premiered in 2010 at a time when politicians and the press were debating and repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” legislation.  Some critics compared the music to “Rogers and Hammerstein”.     (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/theater/reviews/25yank.html?_r=0). 

     The performance I saw was a preview.  Energy, ensemble cohesiveness and music tuning will probably improve as this show moves into regular performance, but it won't change my opinion about the unworthiness of this script.  It has too much gratuitous, idiotic, unrealistic, gay activist non-sense.  This serves Evolution Theatre’s mission to bring gay themes to the stage.  Many folks will see the show because of the reputations and popularity of cast members. The Gay community will probably embrace it.  Personally, I think it is offensive and demeaning to gays.  I certainly don’t recommend it.