Casa Valentina is a 2014 American play written by Harvey Fierstein which premiered on Broadway in April 2014 and opened in London in September 2015. It tells the story of men who spend weekends at a resort in the Catskill mountains, dressed as women.
Background
The play was suggested by the book Casa Susanna, written by Michel Hurst and Robert Swope, which collected photographs from a cross-dressing resort of the same name.[1]
The play made its London debut at the Southwark Playhouse on September 10, 2015 in previews, running through October 10. Directed by Luke Sheppard, the cast featured Tamsin Carroll (Rita), Ben Deery (Miranda), Charlie Hayes (Eleanor), Bruce Montague (Terry), Robert Morgan (Amy), Matt Rixon (Bessie), Ashley Robinson (Gloria), Gareth Snook (Charlotte) and Edward Wolstenholme (Valentina).[6][7]
The play made its Chicago debut with Pride Films and Plays on August 22, 2019 in previews, running through September 29. Directed by Michael D. Graham, the cast featured Patrick Byrnes (George/Valentina), Micah Kronlokken (Jonathan/Miranda), Kingsley Day (Terry), Danne W. Taylor (Charlotte), Michael Hagedorn (Bessie), Robert Koon (The Judge/Amy), Josh Marshall (Michael/Gloria), Nicholia Q. Aguirre (Rita), and BethAnn Smukowski (Eleanor).[8]
Plot
Casa Valentina is a small hotel in the resort area of the Catskill Mountains in New York. In the early 1960s, Casa Valentina has, as guests, heterosexual men who dress and act as women. They are faced with a decision whether to become an official organization.
Critical reception
The reviewer for theatermania wrote that Casa Valentina is "far and away the best new play of the season."[9] Ben Brantley, writing for the New York Times, praised the performances and the first half of the script but critiqued the second half, calling its tone didactic.[10]
