Heartfelt shows about the joys and oys of parenting have been all the rage of late, but few are as harrowing as Jeff Seabaugh’s true-life story about being a gay, stay-at-home suburban dad to three adopted Dominican siblings. We Crazy, Right? opens with Seabaugh reenacting their frantic morning routine, but if you think getting the gang ready for school is exhausting, wait until you find out what it took for them to become a family in the first place.
Like many adoption tales, Seabaugh and his husband’s journey is rife with paperwork, powerful emotions and kooky characters; there’s also homophobia, child abuse and culture clashes. And then there's the gut-wrenching story of Rafael, the first child they attempted to adopt, who was so violent and troubled that they ended up returning him to the system.
It took real bravery for Seabaugh (who, full disclosure, I have met socially) to come clean about Rafael. An earlier incarnation of this show left him out entirely. However, while compelling, the play could be trimmed by a third, and Seabaugh’s characterizations need some work. He’s great when playing himself, but has trouble conjuring other people, especially ones of color. Still, We Crazy, Right? is worth seeing. It’s proof that no family is perfect, no matter how hard you work at it. (Visit our Fringe Festival page for more reviews, and fringenyc.org for more information.)—Raven Snook