Pride Company final play of the season is the World Premier of Jack Heifner's new comedy farce Key West. Heifner is best known for his play Vanities which ran for five years in New York. It became one of the longest running plays in Off-Broadway history. His plays have been produced in New York, Los Angeles and theaters around the country.

Key West is a type of drawing room comedy replete with mistaken identities, sexual sleight of hand and a group of hysterical characterizations. The action takes place in a contemporary gay nudist resort in Key West, Florida. The resort is next to Jerry Herman's house and there is a running gag through out the whole play about a Gray Line tour that passes the house with the announcer stating "This is Jerry Herman's house, the composer of Mame, Dolly and La Cage."

The main character is Tracy who is in his late forties. He is determine to live life to its fullest. He books himself and his best friend Mel into this clothing optional Floridian paradise for a taste of the high life. Mel is the exact opposite of Tracy. Mel is in his late fortiess and he finds his looks are fading. He has fallen prey to that mid-century self conscious called "the age gap."

A hunky 19-year-old virgin from Nebraska checks into the cabin next door. This young man wants to be deflowered by a person he has met on one the Internet. After a series of messages, this will be their first meeting. The sensitive young man whose name is Jeff has represented himself as an experienced 35-year-old man, the reason being that his Internet friend who is in his 30s likes guys older then himself. It turns out that the Internet friend is an Episcopalian priest who is into daddies. Also involved are a hunk of a 19-year-old hustler from Sweden and a man-maid of the resort on roller skates who has very little clothes on.

With all these zany characters, the comedy of errors begin. Everyone gets mixed up and you have a French farce in the making. Tracy is played by George Quick and he has the best lines. He is a musical comedy queen and he breaks out in songs from Herman's musicals. He delivers his songs and lines wonderfully. Mel is played by Joseph Leonardi and his parodic Namia tinged self reproach of Mel is excellent.

The supporting players are good in their roles. Chris Pflueger is exceptionally excellent in the role of the priest. The younger actors Eric Damon Smith, Shawn Ryan and Steve Garland show great promise. Eric Damon Smith, as Pinky, has a very good scene in the second act as a dizzy headed young gay trying to find himself. This scene shows he can be a very good actor.

The dialogue is very clever. There are some good Neil Simon's type zingers that Tracy says. The play's underlying motif is that that age and beauty are not necessarily interdependent.The play has been a sell out most nights. It runs to July 17.

- Richard Connema