Girlfriend

Who doesn't remember their first crush? That guy or girl who captivated your attention and gave you that"funny feeling"in the pit of your stomach every time they glanced your way.

"Girlfriend" is all about those burgeoning and deeply emotional first moments. Based on the book by Todd Almond and set to the music of Matthew Sweet's landmark '90s pop album of the same name, it's the story of two teens from Alliance, Nebraska (Almond and Sweet's home state). Will (played by Ryder Bach) is the quintessential music nerd and, as is often the case when you're young and a part of that world, is the target of all its usual small-minded homophobic poison. Mike (played by Curt Hansen), is the polar opposite of Will in every way. He's a handsome, popular jock, the"golden boy"who everyone either wants, or wants to be.

"Girlfriend" is the perfect rock musical ode for anyone who grew up feeling like they didn't "fit in," and the terrifying thrill of their first small town loves.
Curt Hansen and Ryder Bach have both taken more than one turn playing their respective roles in this '90s rock musical, before bringing it to Los Angeles' Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Those early beginnings are still fresh for both, and Hanson offered his memories about how it all began for him. "I was lucky enough to have worked with writer Todd Almond on another show of his called "A Separate Peace" based on Warren Leight's book. Todd was doing a concert version of "Girlfriend" at Joe's Pub in NYC and asked if I would be available to play Mike. I was hooked on the play from that point on."

For Ryder Bach, the association came even earlier. "I did a workshop of the musical in Palo Alto, over six or seven years ago, and I've been involved ever since. I did a production at Berkeley Rep and at Actors Theatre of Louisville and a few one-off readings along the way."

It was in the Louisville production that the two first worked together, and Hansen recollects his experience this way: "It was such an awesome experience. Ryder had already done a full production of the show; I had only done a concert version. It worked so well in the Actors Theatre space and the city received it so well. Louisville is a rockin' town, so the music, as well as the subject matter, really spoke to audiences and helped the show be a success there!"

For Bach, the memories are happy as well. "It was great! Audiences responded really well to it and I made a lot of great friends there."

When asked how each would describe their characters and how they related to them, Bach started with this: "Will is a good boy, with no father-figure in his life. He gets bullied a lot, but still somehow manages to maintain his optimism."

Hansen described his character in great detail. "Mike is an interesting guy. He's always aspiring to get out of the small town he lives in. He's your typical high school jock, though he has a sensitive, loving and compassionate side to him. In order to fit in with 'the boys,' he feels like he has to hide that side of him behind a brick wall - though it doesn't stop him from being best friends with Will. Mike goes through a huge transformation during the show, shedding the insecurities put on him by his peers, parents and the small town he lives in."

The subject matter is timeless, though when you consider where we are now in the light of the recent Supreme Court ruling, as opposed to when the play is set, things have certainly changed. I asked them each to reflect on what it was like to step back to the 1990s and from where they pulled their inspiration.

"I grew up doing theatre all of my life. I starting during the tail end of '90s," said Curt Hansen. "Though I am not gay, I know a lot of people who are because of it. One of my best friends in high school came out and it was such an interesting thing to experience. Not really knowing anything about the lifestyle, I saw him become more and more comfortable the older he got. He was such a great and charismatic person and when it came down to it, people didn't care that he was gay. Being friends with him through that time was a great learning experience and it gave me great perspective."

Hansen went on to discuss how his personal experiences helped him find compassion for his character. "I feel for Mike, because I was a bit of an outsider, in that I chose to act and sing, instead of playing football or baseball... though I did play tennis in high school! With the quaintness of a small town, comes the quaintness of exposure. From that comes judgement and small-mindedness. I got made fun of and called gay, just because I was in theatre as a kid. Being picked on sucks, but I think those who look at it as a challenge, come out the other end, stronger. Adversity makes people stronger."

Ryder Bach's experiences growing up differed quite a bit from his character, though he admitted to some similarities, "I grew up in San Jose during and after the dot-com boom in a Scientology household, though I'm no longer a member. Will and I share a nervous energy that comes from constantly being unsure of yourself and your identity."

He described his discovery process for his character further: "Over the many years of playing Will, I've based certain aspects on various friends. Todd Almond, the playwright, has that Nebraskan amicability, which I think is a really important part of the show. My good friend, Ray, is a big inspiration, as is Matthew Sweet."

First romance, told from a LGBT perspective is a rarity, as a young, gay teen even more so. I asked Hansen about what he hopes audiences will take away from the show. "No matter what your sexual preference is, everyone remembers their first love. I remember all of mine... from the awkward, cringe-worthy moments, to the sweet, beautiful ones. I hope the audience connects with what it's like to be in love for the first time. I hope we can transport them back to the first time they kissed someone, or the first time they held hands. Hopefully, they can connect that feeling to someone they know who is LGBT and realize that love is just love - regardless of the form it takes."

Love is love, ladies and gentlemen. What a perfect way to close this story. Wise words that sum up perfectly, the innocence of first love that this lovely play represents. An appropriate sentiment as well, especially when reflecting on this particular moment in LGBT history.

"Girlfriend" is playing at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Boulevard in Downtown Los Angeles from Sunday, July 12 through Sunday, August 9. For tickets and more information, call 213.628.2772 or go to centertheatregroup.org