The title and the rainbow on the poster suggest something about this performance. But before anyone makes any judgment based on his or her personal beliefs, this play deals with the history of the suppression of sexual minorities, personal histories and universal questions, as well as emotions that we all have.
In the play Pride, three different characters who share the same name and soul, live in two different eras. Phillip from 1958 disregards himself because he is conscious of what society believes, but Oliver, who writes children’s stories, is rather carefree. In 2015, Phillip and Oliver are officially a couple but the difference in the way they think puts a strain on their relationship. Silvia was Phillip’s wife in the past, but in 2015, she is their best friend who accepts them as they are. The show compares the ‘50s, when homophobia was socially acceptable, with the present, in which Pride parades are celebrated.
I mentioned before that Pride is about universal questions and emotions, some of which you can see in Phillip and Oliver’s stories in 1958. Phillip, who hid and suppressed his own identity, reminded me of people today who hide their true self, of how we all ask, “Who am I?” and those who focus on money and success while regarding impractical things to be useless. Oliver’s line, “These sleepless nights will all be worth it” consoles those who are kept awake at night. Even if you are unfamiliar with the topic, you’ll be able to relate to the main characters’ lives and examine your own life.
The narrative flows naturally and the last song 'The Map,' by composer Kim Kyung-wook, gives the show a sense of lingering.