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Gay scandal at Harvard in 1920 lives again in docu-drama telling

BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

OFF BROADWAY REVIEW

Back in 1920, a group of Harvard University students was investigated on charges of being homosexuals by a secretly-convened tribunal of dons. Disgrace, expulsion and even suicide were among the results of the scandal, which was hushed up for more than 80 years.

This ugly real-life story has now been dramatized as “Unnatural Acts,” which opened on Thursday at Classic Stage Company.

Conceived and directed by Tony Speciale and collectively written by members of the Plastic Theatre (some of whom perform in the production), the docu-drama has been developed from fragmentary university archives. The makers note that some of their material is fictional. Still, the tragedy of marred lives they earnestly relate is worth knowing in these freer times.

For the most part fascinating, at other times clichéd (like a bathroom scene with its requisite beefcake bit) or overly arty (a bout of Robert Wilson-style arm choreography), “Unnatural Acts” is a theatrically uneven but always absorbing look at some young men dealing none too well with their taboo sexuality – and disastrously so with their prohibitive 1920 society.

Boys will be boys: Watch them recklessly party away in the dorm even as the authorities sniff around.

Those shadowy kangaroo courts, snatches of gay-coded conversation and several dramatic surprises (particularly a what-happened-to-everybody-afterwards coda) highlight the well-paced show, which is acted extremely well by an 11-member company.

Observantly dressed by Andrea Lauer, especially vivid portrayals are delivered by Nick Westrate as a smirking rich boy, Brad Koed as the most hapless student, Will Rogers as the clueless nice guy in the next room and Max Jenkins as the smarmy number who spills the beans to save his skin.