Richmond Jim--A Classic is Revived

One of the real benefits of attending the Naked July Festival hosted by the National Pastime Theater each summer is the opportunity to see bold and thought-provoking performances that are not likely to be staged in other venues around the city. Some shows get their premiere staging at NPT during the month-long Naked July festival, while others, such as the classic play by Cal Yeomans titled Richmond Jim, are revived after a long absence to entertain and challenge new audiences. Richmond Jim is directed by David Zak and is produced by Pride Films and Plays as part of the 2012 Naked July schedule.

Richmond Jim was the first successful play by Cal Yeomans. It premiered in San Francisco at the newly formed Theatre Rhinoceros and was selected as the Best Gay Play of the Year in 1979. Yeomans wrote several other plays over the next few years, but then turned his attention to poetry and photography in the mid-1980’s and specialized in creating artistic male nude images.  When a curator prepared an exhibition of some of his photography and lauded him for his groundbreaking plays, Yeomans replied that "my pictures say it better than my words ever did." Looking back, it is clear that his words and his images opened new frontiers for a generation of creative artists to follow.

Richmond Jim provides a compelling look into the gay community before the AIDS epidemic changed the landscape forever. PFP's Executive Director David Zak explains the project like this—“As we explore our mission to develop 'what's new and who's next' in LGBT plays and screenplays, we have also had the chance to explore important writing that has come before. When I first read Richmond Jim, I felt strongly that this play - which is a wonderful reflection of gay life before AIDS - would touch those who lived through this period, and teach those who have been born since."

The production includes performances by Kris Hyland (Jim), Jamie Smith (Biddy), and Chris Kossen (Mike). The Friday and Saturday performances start at midnight, but shows are scheduled for 8:00 pm during weekdays and at 6:00 pm for some special Sunday performances. More information about the Pride Films and Plays project can be found on their website. Thanks to David Zak for providing the photos used in this article.