Directed by: Eric Hoff. At: Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee. Phone: 773-598-4549; $15. Runs through: June 3
Jeremy Owens presents a cast of five with stage readings of the members’ first sexual experiences. With no introduction, Anne Taylor starts a little slow but—much like foreplay—warms up by the end of her segment. Jeremy then recounts his days of sleeping with a girl through gay colored glasses. Ryan Hastings gets graphic with talk about Greece and Joseph Varisco describes an adventure on Craigslist gone wrong. Kathleen Gibson brings the black back like a new Lisa Lampanelli to stir the house and finish the show.
First Time is fast-paced but could stand to have a straight man’s story, with three openly gay men cast members not leaving a lot for some audience members to latch onto. (What a switch this is with a Windy City Times reviewer looking for straight instead of gay content.) Think of the show like the Penis Monologues that can get a little one-sided. While the atmosphere is relaxed, the performers could stand to set down their drinks and get off book a bit more. Everyone seems to be having fun, though, with some classic moments that, for the most part, is well-written by the no-longer-virginal cast.