My Funny Valentine: an observer's take

My Funny Valentine tries to understand

Toronto: Playwright / performer Dave Deveau became obsessed with the story of Larry King – a 15 year-old gay boy who asked 14 year-old classmate Brandon McInerney to be his valentine.  Two days later in first period computer lab, Brandon shot Larry in the head with a .22 calibre revolver.  My Funny Valentine, part of the ongoing SummerWorks Festival, is Deveau's response to that tragedy.


Staged in the backspace at Theatre Passe Muraille, the play is certainly affecting.  How could it not be?  In California, in February 2008 – a child was executed by another child because of his sexual orientation.  The crime has stirred up controversy from all sides.  McInerney has been charged as an adult with premeditated murder and a hate crime – he faces a sentence of 50 years to life imprisonment if convicted.  It raises serious issues of gun violence, gender expression and the sexual identity of teenagers.  

Yet I remain curious about why Deveau would choose to explore this event.  What is new?  What can we learn from this story being told onstage?  As a Canadian, I must admit that on many occasions the behaviour of Americans is beyond my comprehension. Perhaps that is why Deveau is so hooked on unravelling the murder of Larry King – maybe he just can't understand it either.

The production features Deveau playing himself as an observer of the event and several characters from real life – Larry's teacher who he came out to at the age of 10, Larry's younger brother who was mocked for his brother's sexuality, a young girl who received an organ transplan of Larry's liver and even a priest who gave the eulogy at Larry's funeral.  Deveau changes character with ease – and keeps the audience guessing who the new character is and how he/she relates to Larry King.  As the prosecution of Brandon McInerney remains ongoing, Deveau has embraced the challenge of keeping his play timely by including the most up-to-date information.  This timeliness makes the play feel very present in the here and now.  I hope that the play will continue to evolve and that Deveau finds whatever he is looking for.

Credits:  My Funny Valentine produced by Thirty Below Theatre; written and performed by Dave Deveau; directed/dramaturged by Cameron Mackenzie; stage managed by Adam Barrett; and lighting design by David DeGrow. 

 

By Allyson McGrane