HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Okay; so you missed your shot at seeing adult actors like Nina Hartley and Tom Byron, not to mention mainstream personalities like Sally Kirkland, Bruce Vilanch and Christopher "Peter Brady" Knight, perform in a play based on the production and persecution, er, prosecution of the landmark adult movie Deep Throat. Well, don't worry; David Bertolino's widely praised The Deep Throat Sex Scandal is being held over at the Zephyr Theater, and the "guest" roles are being filled by some of adult's most popular classic performers.
Beginning Thursday, and continuing through Sunday, the roles of the adult theater ticket-taker and the Deep Throat trial's judge will be played by, respectively, the much-missed former Vivid contract player Hyapatia Lee and one of adult's most versatile character actors, Evan Stone. The following week, those roles will be assumed by busty beauty Rebecca Bardoux and award-winning actor/director Paul Thomas.
And if those folks aren't enough to entice jaded L.A. audiences to attend, there are cast regulars Veronica Hart, who essays nearly a dozen roles over the course of the 90-minute play, and adult industry veteran Herschel Savage, who does a star turn as Deep Throat's director Gerard Damiano, not to mention Harry Reems' appeals attorney Alan Dershowitz—and all of these stars are directed by the legendary adult director Jerry Douglas.
Fact is, the play's been something of a hot topic among the Hollywood crowd, with mainstream celebrities dropping by to catch the show, much as their forebears (like Doris Day, Barbara Walters, Jackie Onassis, Brian DePalma, Martin Scorsese, Johnny Carson, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Truman Capote) did with the original movie back in the '70s.
"I am totally blown away! No pun intended," Bertolino remarked. "The audience has spoken. Seats are full or near full night after night, and we've been getting great reviews from theatergoers."
Besides AVN's own thoughts on the production, some members of ticket/review site Goldstar.com have also weighed in.
"Play was well written, entertaining and highly informative, revealing many fascinating facts about the making of the film and its aftermath and repercussions," wrote one satisfied attendee. "The actors—even those without extensive professional experience—are credible as the real-life characters; the male lead as Harry Reems is dynamic and likeable and the female lead appropriately demure and poignant as Linda Lovelace. Certainly a well spent evening of theater. Prude alert: There's a plethora of gratuitous male frontal and 'backal' nudity, with one glimpse of female frontal and some topless as well as some simulated sex acts. What did you expect, The Sound of Music?"
"I saw the play during Preview with some friends," wrote another. "It has the feel of a low-budget play with great material. On the other hand, the subject matter was made the same way, so it has a very intimate feel. The whole theater seats about 70 people, and you are never more than 15 feet from the Actors. Everyone plays 2 or 3 roles, and the entire team pitches in to change sets. I think that it was marvelous, the Cast gave their hearts to the material, and I would definitely recommend the experience."
So if you're in town, or even near town, why not head on down to the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., sometime this weekend or next and see what all the fuss is about? Tickets can be purchased online here, or by calling (800) 838-3006, or at the box office at the theater. Valet parking is available.
