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When you’re a 16 year old exceptionally verbal, bright theatre kid, the world is your oyster. . .or so it seemed for Andy Lipman (Noah Robbins). His idol is a sought after Broadway Tony Award-winning director, writer (on the order of Harold Prince perhaps) named Martin Kerner (John Glover). Spurred on by his mom Joanne (Amy Aquino), and dad Peter (Mark Nelson),
Andy writes the theatre celebrity a long letter containing lots of clever babble hoping this will elicit an immediate response.
It’s two years later; Andy is at Harvard when Kerner finally answers. At a lunch meeting at 
Café des Artistes, replete with nude nymph backdrop a la Howard Chandler Christy, Kerner, a volatile character, name drops like crazy, impressing the vulnerable Andy, (“Kid, you give me such a kick!") seemingly taking on the role of mentor. Kerner’s ongoing message - “Push out the bullshit, aim for the truth.” In the midst of this, is Joanne, a disappointed dancer wannabe who, in her younger years, had actually auditioned for the great master, who reminds him she was the one in purple tights. She is feeling threatened by the loss of her son, as well as somewhat jealous of his new relationship with Kerner, with a deeper knowledge of Andy’s yet unannounced homosexuality.
There’s lots of fast paced, clever dialogue throughout with disappointment, jealousies, love and realities unfolding in this comedy-drama, as Andy "comes out" to Kerner telling him, “I’ve seen the Gay thing, I’ve been to piano bars.” He proceeds to pour out his heart and in the back of his mind is the ever-present hope that Kerner, who drops ever so small hints about one day hiring or connecting Andy, will be the launching pad to Andy’s successful theatrical career. But the question is who is actually mentoring who, as the characters unfold with Matt Shakman’s masterful directing and staging, in this stirring and complicated play. 
This is Jonathan Tolins’ latest unblemished contribution of provocative dynamics in another of this season’s Gay themed theatre pieces. Twilight of the Golds was Tolins’ most interesting family-themed writing last seen.
Amy Aquino is pragmatically effective as Joanne, and Mark Nelson, as architect husband Peter, tries to make amends in his amusing portrayal. Bill Brochtrup plays Kerner’s sardonic Gay assistant, Bradley. Glover and Robbins are a gifted duo as the story progresses, and the no longer starry-eyed Andy learns true lessons about life, love, expectations and much more than secrets of the trade!
This Primary Stages production runs through September 4th, 2010 at 59E59 Theaters (bet. Park/Madison Avenues) Tickets: (212)279-4200 http://primarystages.org
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