Coming Out: A Dark Comedy in Two Acts

When the Anderson family gathers to celebrate Bob and Susan's 40th wedding anniversary, no more than the usual fussing is expected. Both parents are college professors, and the atheist philosopher Bob plans to have a few drinks before dealing with his eldest son, James, the pastor of a suburban Dallas mega-church and a well-known televangelist. Theological bickering has been a normal part of their relationship for years, and by this time really only annoys Susan, who keeps trying to change the subject. But no one was expecting younger son George to pick this day to announce both that he's gay, and that he plans to move to New York in order to marry his fiance, Eric. Bob, Susan, and their daughter Ellen are fine with this - they'd figured out that George was gay years ago - but James, who either never noticed or perhaps refused to do so, immediately commences a homophobic tirade, loudly declaring that George is now certainly doomed to eternal punishment in hell, and invoking every fundamentalist argument available suggesting that the very existence of gays is destroying the country and the world. The situation isn't exactly helped when Bob's secretary, Carol, shows up and reveals that she's pregnant. This provocative two act dark comedy touches on the subjects of gay marriage, bigotry, religion, infidelity, and domestic abuse. At times touching, enlightening, frightening, and deeply moving, Coming Out provides a timely look at some of the controversial subjects that are making news today, and does so with a rare sense of humor. This edition includes a production history, author's notes, costume suggestions, and furniture and prop lists.