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They are married to each other and pretend to be straight. What few realize is that both of them are in same-sex relationships.<\/p>\n
Bob\u2019s wife, Millie Martindale (Laura Bohlin), is actually Norma\u2019s lover and Norma\u2019s husband, Jim Baxter (Joshua Jones), is having an affair with Bob.<\/p>\n
Problems arise when Bob and Norma are asked to take part in the \u201cLavender Scare,\u201d a real life witch-hunt against homosexuals.<\/p>\n
While the \u201cRed Scare\u201d of the 1940s and 1950s continues to be argued about and reflected upon, the \u201cLavender Scare\u201d isn\u2019t discussed to the same extent. Even some of the artists involved with the staging at the Horton Grand Theatre weren\u2019t aware about this dark period of history.<\/p>\n Not only were many men and women fired from their jobs for being gay, lesbian or bisexual, the campaign brought a lot of negative damage to the LGBT community.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until several decades later when homosexuality was accepted by a majority of society in this country.<\/p>\n Although the play is meant to be entertainment, Bohlin would like \u201cPerfect Arrangement\u201d to be an enriching experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t forget this period of American history that wasn\u2019t that long ago,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Playwright Topher Payne uses humor and emotional moments to add humanity to the historical fiction plot.<\/p>\n The four main characters might be Payne\u2019s creations, but they are dealing with the many issues that gays and lesbians faced several decades ago.<\/p>\n Bohlin said she feels that the balance between laughter and pathos is earned.<\/p>\n \u201cHow cool is it when people can be entertained while being empathetic of a person\u2019s lifestyle,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In the early scenes, the tale incorporates comedic situations that wouldn\u2019t be out of place in \u201cI Love Lucy.\u201d To get into the style of the narrative, Bohlin watched a good amount of episodes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a delightful sitcom that also aided me with research for that period of time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Christy Yael-Cox, CEO\/producing artistic director and co-founder of Intrepid, and stage manager Taylor Todd helped the cast learn about the events that inspired Payne\u2019s script.<\/p>\n Jones, especially, got a lot out of the rehearsal process.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were excellent about giving us tons of dramaturgical information,\u201d Jones said. \u201cWe spent two days going over how things were shifting from the late 1940s to the 1950s.\u201d<\/p>\n As the evening goes on, Bob and Norma continue to depict different personae in their personal and public life.<\/p>\n Their frequent changes in personality are something that Jones believes audiences will connect to, regardless of sexuality or political party.<\/p>\n One of the main conflicts, which is still relevant today, is that Bob and Norma don\u2019t publicly stand up for innocent people who end up being victims of intolerance.<\/p>\n Bob and Norma\u2019s choice not to help out those in need is a problem that resonates with Paredes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes me think about what would happen if I see something that\u2019s wrong in real life,\u201d she said. \u201cAm I going to be a bystander or stand up for somebody that doesn\u2019t have a voice?\u201d<\/p>\n By being both topical and informative, Intrepid\u2019s interpretation of Payne\u2019s story is a fascinating and humorous depiction of a complex era.<\/p>\n Previews have begun for the show, so audiences don\u2019t have to wait to watch the latest from Yael-Cox and the award-winning theater company.<\/p>\n \u201cPerfect Arrangement\u201d will be performed at Horton Grand Theatre through March 12. For tickets or more information, visit intrepidtheatre.org or call 888-71-TICKETS.<\/p>\n![\"Learning](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Laura-Bohlin-2017-200x300.jpeg\")
![\"Learning](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Joshua-Jones-2017-240x300.jpeg\")
![\"Learning](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Jennifer-Paredes-2017-240x300.jpeg\")