THEATER REVIEW : ‘The Boys in the Band’: Anniversary of a Healing Classic

“The doctor canceled.”

Why?

“A virus or something. He looked awful.”

This dialogue begins Mart Crowley’s 1968 pre-gay-liberation play “The Boys in the Band,” instantly jolting audiences with a shock of premonition. In 1993, the reference would clearly be to AIDS.

Indeed, five of the original company members of the show have since died of the disease.

The resonance in the first play to blatantly explore gay issues explains in part why the Fountain Theatre has put together this illuminating 25th-anniversary production. “You show me a happy homosexual and I’ll show you a gay corpse” is its most infamous line. But the characters demonstrate that a life of denial and self-loathing is more destructive than any disease.

“The Boys in the Closet” could be its subtitle. Eight homosexuals and one questionable heterosexual gather in a plush New York apartment for a birthday party. During a long night’s journey into day, they hilariously and tragically replay straight society’s abuse.

“Screaming queen, tired fairy, pansy,” they lovingly call each other. “Faggots,” one groans, “they’re worse than women about their age.”

Most suffer from “the icks”: guilt. “Give me Librium or give me meth,” serves as the evening’s motto. But as the party descends into a wake, a theme emerges: “If we could just learn not to hate ourselves so much . . . “

Despite its depiction of a sadder generation, “The Boys in the Band” is a classic that reveals the roots of gay activism. No wonder “outing” and ACT UP exist today.

But it’s more than an invaluable historical document in the hands of the Fountain Theatre’s exceptional ensemble. Director Stephen Sachs has balanced Crowley’s many camp jokes with the playwright’s trenchant points. In particular, Sachs has muted the exhibitionism while emphasizing the relationship between the play’s only gay couple (superbly performed by Dave Higgins and Cyril O’Reilly).

There are flaws in Crowley’s structure, especially an artificial telephone “truth game” that doesn’t ring true in 1993. Politically, members of the gay press have condemned it as a period piece and “a freak show.”

But in this reverent production, “The Boys in the Band” is a healing experience. In this classic we find the seeds of all that was to follow, including “Torch Song Trilogy,” “The Normal Heart,” “An Early Frost” and “Angels in America” . . . as well as an epidemic.

The Fountain Theatre production deserves a long, long run. Alas, this Sunday’s performance will be its last. Everything at the Fountain Theatre is first class and every penny of profit goes to Equity Fights AIDS.

* “The Boys in the Band, ‘ ‘ Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Av e ., Hollywood. Thursdays-Sundays 8 p.m., Saturday matinee 3 p.m. Ends Sunday. All proceeds go to Equity Fights AIDS. (213) 663-1525. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.