Purple Bench commissions Chicago playwright Erynn Aiello

Following the production of two socially relevant and politically prescient plays in 2008, Purple Bench Productions continues its mission with the commission of a new play by Chicago playwright Erynn Aiello. 

Erynn’s new project focuses on gay and lesbian relationships in the wake of political upheaval.  Indeed, what happens to relationships at the base level when a particular government invalidates the union? Erynn sets out to explore just this issue in her new work.

Purple Bench recently sat down with Erynn to discuss not only her project, but her views on the Chicago theatre scene and why theatre continues to be an important force in American art.

Read on below for our discussion with Erynn.
 

PBP: Erynn, can you tell our audience about what inspires you to write?

EA: I'm inspired by plays all the time. If I had the money to see shows every weekend I would. There's a lot of really great theater out there. I love to see theater companies with a lot of energy and drive do amazing things with small budgets. I'm of a mind that you don't need a ton of money to put on a good show. You just need talent and open minds to take things to the creative places they need to go to reach the audience. Those are the kinds of companies I'd love to work with.

PBP: Given the current economic climate in America, have your views on the capabilities of off-Loop theatres changed? 

EA: It's really sad to think of companies closing in this current financial crisis. On the other hand, if you look at history, a lot of great art comes out of hard times. Of course, it's unfortunate that people are forced to have little money, but it's exciting to see what people come up with, having to rely on their imaginations in design as opposed to elaborate sets. Now's a good time to bring back the Cabaret style and the "fuck it all I'm going to go for it" attitude that's been missing in a lot of theater lately. Let's go back to the raw core of art. I want to see you in the streets, subways, church basements, everywhere.  A lot of people try to make theater more like movies. Some are afraid of theatrical sensibilities, which I don't understand. It's to the point where I see a lot of critics pan a play really for no other reason than that they want it to be more like a movie. Get over it. You're at the theater.

Also, I think we'll see a lot of groups sharing and collaborating which is great in my opinion. I guess in a nutshell, great theater is made not by how much you have, but what you do with what you've got.

PBP: Tell us about your latest project.

EA: I'm writing a still-untitled play about two gay couples. It begins with one couple's first date, the euphoria of a new relationship-- and the other couple breaking up. We see both couples grow, change, and deal with the ever-changing political climate. Of course it goes without saying much of the play is inspired by recent events in California. What happens to a relationship when the government says your relationship is no longer valid?  What happens when your church says you aren't welcome and you have to face the fact that your religion is against so much of who you are? Those are the threads stitching the play together, but the overall fabric is simply relationships. I'm focusing on the everyday occurrences that bring a couple closer or make them fall apart. Something everyone can relate to.

PBP: Why write on GLBT topics today?  Hasn’t this issue been explored extensively?

EA: As a straight woman, I'm sure people will be wondering why the hell I'm writing about relationships like these when folks like John Cameron Mitchell and Tony Kushner can do it better. But then you can say, why write about anything ever? There's always someone doing something better than what you want to do. Kelly Link writes about ghosts better than I do, but that doesn't make me not want to write about ghosts.

The idea that the gay community has been covered sufficiently in theater is ridiculous. Will we ever say that the straight community has been covered enough to where we don't need to write about it any more.

We do, however, need to see fewer stereotypes on stage. People need to accept that your gay friend or neighbor isn't always going to be a flamboyant hairdresser wearing tight leather pants. It's "safe" so long as it's over-the-top, and we're laughing at their expense. Why can't we see the gay community as it really is? Human. Many wanting healthy families just like straight families. Why is American society so afraid of that? 

PBP: Do political situations normally inspire you to write?

EA: I'm usually never driven creatively by political events, at least not directly. I typically write about ghosts or supernatural things. The gay community is not typically supernatural so I've been a bit out of my element. But the issue of rights within relationships has really grabbed me. We'll see if I do it justice. It's been a helluva ride so far. 

Erynn Aiello is a Chicago playwright.  Currently under commission with Purple Bench Productions, her work has been seen on various stages throughout the midwest.