Parker Gray. left, and David Coffey star in Visiting Mr. Green at Theatre Arlington (Courtesy photo)
‘Visiting Mr. Green’ can resonate with gay audiences through its heartfelt truths
RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
On the surface, the play Visiting Mr. Green may sound a bit like Tuesdays with Morrie: A young man develops a profound friendship with an older man.
Got it.
But according to the play’s director, this one has a lot more shade to throw. In Green, these two characters don’t get off on the right foot.
“They both have a lot of past heartache and trauma, and so communication is very difficult between the two,” Director Steven D. Morris said.
Theatre Arlington opens the Jeff Baron-written play on Friday, Sept. 13 and it runs through Sept. 29.
After the two are involved in a traffic accident, Ross is given six months of community service in which he is ordered to visit Mr. Green, an elderly widower. Both are Jewish. Ross is gay, and, in Mr. Green’s eyes, there is no such thing as a gay Jew.
“He’s very firm in his beliefs, and he’s very devout,” Morris said. “Ross has gone back in the closet so his family would accept and speak to him again after he came out, so he comes in with this struggle of acceptance. Mr. Green reflects that to Ross.”
The two-actor play stars Parker Gray as Ross and David Coffey as the titular older widower.
Morris assures it’s not just a play filled with barbs and insults back and forth between the unlikely pair. For the director, the story is about healing and getting through those difficult moments to find something more in each other.
“I’ve been very blessed with these actors because they are unbelievably talented and extremely professional,” Morris said. “The play is also so well-written. There are lots of laughs and comedy within these difficult moments. And there are tears.
“I hope gay audiences will come out because I think this play is very healing — even if we don’t think we need some.”
Morris added that this play
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