theater

FUN HOME at Titusville Playhouse

Ame Livingston as cartoonist Alison Bechdel, whose 2006 graphic memoir “Fun Home” was adapted into the Tony Award winning musical. Photo by Niko Stamos.

By PAM HARBAUGH

Let’s get this right out there…”Fun Home” is brilliant. It’s a smart, compelling, sensitive coming of age story about a young girl who realizes that she’s gay. Read guest critic Georgette Spelvin’s review by clicking here.

It is set in a funeral home, hence the title, “Fun Home.” Which of course is ironic.

Autumn Rae Shannon
and Alexander Nathan in FUN HOME at Titusville Playhouse. Photo by Niko Stamos

I saw the musical on Broadway and am very much looking forward to seeing it at Titusville Playhouse, which has become the go-to place for important contemporary works. And I love contemporary works. How wonderful to have something on stage that comes from diverse voices living right now rather than that which spoke through a handful of men a hundred years ago.

Sorry…disagree if you want. I will stand my ground on that one. Unless we’re talking “West Side Story” or “My Fair Lady.” And, truth be told…those are both grounded in universal classics — “Romeo and Juliet” and “Pygmalion” — and deal with issues we still confront, racism and class warfare.

From left: Delaney McGough, Ame Livingston
and Autumn Rae Shannon in FUN HOME at Titusville Playhouse. Photo by Niko Stamos

Anyway, Titusville Playhouse director Steven Heron had to reduce the typical four weekend run to three because of the challenge of selling tickets to a show that’s important. So can we all please rally and head to TPI and see this show? Please keep an eye out for a review in Brevard Culture. I heard that Georgina Spelvin is coming out of her self-imposed exile and might give us a few observations.

Shawn Mindel and Alexander Nathan in FUN HOME at Titusville Playhouse. Photo by Niko Stamos

In the meantime…

SIDE O’ GRITS: FUN HOME runs through June 4 at Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia St., Titusville. Tickets are $23 to $29 (OMG, just SOOOO much less than the $125 I paid in NYC). Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.