Review: Monsters of the American Cinema

SARASOTA — On Friday, Urbanite Theatre opened its season with the regional premiere of Christian St. Croix’s award-winning play Monsters of the American Cinema.

Remy Washington didn’t expect to lose his husband so early in life, or inherit his son, Pup, and a struggling drive-in movie theater. Remy is black, Pup is white. Remy is gay, and Pup is straight, attempting to navigate the complexities of the teen dating world.

The two share a bond that is built around their shared love of old horror movies, but when Remy discovers that Pup has been bullying a queer classmate, their relationship is strained, and Pup’s mental health challenges resurface.

Jon Joseph Gentry gives an outstanding performance as Remy, whose reluctant transformation into an unlikely head of household provides an unexpected sense of purpose. Tyler Gevas is stellar as Pup, conveying the awkward angst of post-pubescent teendom with visceral force.

Tyler Gevas. Photo by Sorcha Augustine

There’s something about Monsters that feels intensely fresh, as if St. Croix has tapped into something so modern it feels like real life more than most plays can hope to manage. At 90 minutes with no intermission, it moves at a brisk pace, simmering toward a crescendo that becomes almost supernatural as we watch a young man deal with the monsters that often stir within us.

The entire play takes place in a small trailer they share on the grounds of the drive-in, and Jeff Weber’s set makes beautifully innovative use of Urbanite’s small black-box space. Urbanite co-founder Summer Dawn Wallace directs a drum-tight production of an outstanding stage drama.

Monsters of the American Cinema runs through December 7. Visit the Urbanite website for ticket and schedule information.