‘Love! Valour! Compassion!’: LGBTQI+ play hits Cape Town theatre [watch]

Love! Valour! Compassion! is a heartwarming play that follows the lives of eight gay men in the 90s. The award-winning play is currently showing at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town. Speaking about the play, director Gregg Pettigrew told Broadway World that every human caan take a message from the play and relate to it.

‘LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!’

Set in a farmhouse in Dutchess County, two hours away from New York, Love! Valour! Compassion! explores the lives of eight gay men who confront issues of love, friendship, AIDS, flirting and more, over three holiday weekends.
The play originally written by Terrance McNally premiered in 1994. The following year, McNally won a Tony Award for Best Play and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.
Love! Valour! Compassion! was adapted into a film in 1997 and was directed by Joe Mantello.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

GREGG PETTIGREW ON THE SPEARHEADING THE PLAY 

The play showing at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town was directed by Gregg Pettigrew. Speaking to Broadway Wold, Pettigrew said Love! Valour! Compassion! uses the eight men as a vehicle for its story.

“But it is a play that’s message truly transcends sexual orientation boundaries,” he added.
“It is a play that every human being will take a message from and relate to. I am proud to be heading the production that will carry the blazing torch of hope for the South African entertainment industry to get back to work after going through our own doldrums for so many months.”

Producer Frans Swart said the themes in the play are universal, adding that it is a beautiful love story.

“Gregg has done a marvelous job in directing the production and under his direction, the play sweeps effortlessly along as the characters fall in and out of love, argue, swim, dine, sleep, flirt and talk which they do especially well!”

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW 

After a successful run at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, Love! Valour! Compassion! is now showing at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town. The show was scheduled for September 2021 but was pushed to 2022 due to COVID-19.
The play opened on 1 February and will be showing until 13 February.
Tickets are available here and range between R198 and R220.

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