Becoming Butch

With a "butch meter" projected behind him to chart his masculinity on a scale of one to ten, handsome L.A. actor-writer Vincent James Arcuri narrates a personal story about coming to terms with his sexuality and the way that he is perceived by his family and friends. Acknowledging that he can be compared to Jack from Will & Grace, he candidly addresses the anxiety many men feel about outwardly appearing too gay. Arcuri's carefully preened, exacting veneer sometimes seem to impede him from relaxing onstage and connecting with the audience—which may be the point—but his stories about his supportive Queens family are funny and, at times, truly heartwarming. When he speaks emotionally of his late mother, he lets down his guard and allows the audience to see a version of him that is less shiny, and lovelier for it. (Visit our Fringe Festival page for more reviews, and fringenyc.org for more information.)—David Bell