Back and Forth

Topher Payne and Sunny Williams shine in Valhalla

by Jim Farmer

Southern Voice

WRITER PAUL RUDNICK is a truly funny man, but his projects aren’t always fail proof. Everyone remembers his “In and Out” and “Addams Family Values,” but he’s also responsible for film duds such as “Marci X” and the “The Stepford Wives” remake.

As a playwright, he’s also had mixed success. Some of his work — especially “Jeffrey” and “The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told,” are beloved. Now Atlanta has a chance to see Rudnick’s latest work, “Valhalla,” currently part of Essential Theatre’s Power Plays Fest.

Rudnick shifts between two initially dissimilar worlds, that of King Ludwig II of Bavaria (Topher Payne) and that of James Avery (Matt Felten), a fictional young boy growing up in Texas just before World War II. Pressed to marry, Ludwig finally decides to wed a humpback (Kate Graham) he really doesn’t love. Meanwhile in Texas, the bisexual James has a crush on Henry Lee Stafford (Greg Morris) but also seems fond of Sally (Graham again). James turns into a troublemaker and winds up in jail, before interrupting the marriage between Henry Lee and Sally. The two men later wind up fighting in Germany together.

THE PLAY FOLLOWS BOTH LEAD CHARACTERS, who turn out to have a lot in common. Both are misunderstood and unconventional, and also have a domineering mother (Sunny Williams in both roles).Rudnick, who is openly gay himself, is one of only a few playwrights whose plays always seem to have an unabashed gay sensibility. “Valhalla” has much gay content, and both leads seem to like men, even if Ludwig’s taste is played more ambiguously. Rudnick deserves immense credit for not writing another cookie cutter gay romantic comedy. “Valhalla” has ambition to spare, but it can lose scope. It is that rare play that would be more effective if it were simpler.

“VALHALLA” CAN LURCH back and forth wildly, and just when things are getting nutty, Rudnick throws in a bizarre musical number featuring the two soldiers.The cast, fortunately, makes the production well worth seeing. Payne’s comedic touch is on sharp display, Morris shows considerable talent, and Graham has a charming presence. Yet all the performers pale next to the dynamic Williams, who chews scenery delectably. “Valhalla” is one of the goofiest plays you’ll see this summer.