Jennifer Chung Klam

San Diego Arts

'Dear Harvey' at Diversionary Theatre

‘Medicine the world needs’
By Jennifer Chung Klam
Posted on Mon, Apr 20th, 2009
Last updated Mon, Apr 20th, 2009

The 2008 biopic “Milk,” starring Sean Penn, won two academy awards and brought mainstream recognition to the life of politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk. He was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and was a sitting member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors when he was assassinated on Nov. 27, 1978. In the 30 years since his death, Milk has become an icon for gay rights.

Now adding to the iconography of Milk as human rights activist is a world premiere play commissioned by Diversionary Theatre. Part tribute and part documentary, “Dear Harvey” is based on interviews with politicians, fellow activists, friends and nephew Stuart Milk. Playwright Patricia Loughrey also includes Milk’s own words from speeches, official statements, personal letters and a column he wrote for the Bay Area Reporter.

Through these various sources emerges a touching, life-affirming and at times humorous portrait of the activist who affected so many and changed the course of politics. Milk fought not only for gays and lesbians, but for minorities, the elderly, unions, public transit, health care, and even dope smokers and prostitutes. He believed in individual freedoms, the power of community and the importance of gays to come out of the closet, to be seen and heard.

Loughrey incorporates many local voices – including politicians Toni Atkins and Christine Kehoe, and activists from local chapters of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change and the National Organization for Women – that provide a sense of what the movement was like in San Diego.

In one particularly funny story, a woman recounts how local NOW members dressed conservatively and set up tables at local supermarkets with signs that read, “Meet your local lesbian,” in a bid to demonstrate that gays and lesbians were neither intimidating nor freakish.

There are coming out stories. Memories of meeting Milk for the first time. Cleve Jones’ recollections of starting the AIDS Memorial Quilt project. Thoughts on the riots that followed the sentencing of Dan White – who received just seven years for the murders of Milk and Mayor George Moscone.

The ensemble includes John Garcia, Tony Houck, Aaron Marcotte, Jerusha Matsen Neal, Carla Nell, Kim Strassburger and Scott Striegel, all of whom bring immense energy and affection to the production. Their affinity to the play and its subject matter are apparent. Strassburger especially brings a strong presence to her roles, as well as a good dose of humor. Striegel gives a moving performance as Cleve Jones, who conceived of the AIDS Memorial Quilt at a memorial for Milk. The quilt has become the world’s largest community arts project, honoring more than 83,000 Americans killed by the disease.

No single member of the ensemble plays Milk; instead, each plays a number of different “characters,” giving them distinct voices and mannerisms. Director Dan Kirsch does a fine job of layering the voices, sometimes in lyrical fashion, other times evoking an angry mob or a throng of fans.

One of the most touching moments in the play comes when we are introduced to composer Thomas Hodges, who provides the lovely and perfectly fitting piano music that underscores the play. A 20-year-old student at San Diego State University, Hodges comes out from behind the piano to take the stage, reading his own “Dear Harvey” letter of gratitude and inspiration.

The play is not only the story of Milk, but of his legacy, and the changes that have happened since his assassination that acknowledge his death wasn’t in vain. It’s an important piece of history, an inspirational story and engaging theater.

If you don’t catch “Dear Harvey” in its limited run, through April 25, you’ll have another chance when SDSU’s School of Theatre, Television and Film produces at the end of September.

About the author: Jennifer Chung Klam is an editor at The Daily Transcript and a freelance arts and culture writer.
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