Niagara Falls

July 16-Aug. 2, 8 p.m., $25, Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St., 215-627-1088, quinceproductions.com.

by Deni Kasrel

theater

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Victor Bumbalo explains that the inspiration behind Niagara Falls is that he "wanted to do a play about what people say about gay people when they leave the room." And that's just what you get with this two-acter, the first half of which centers on travails that ensue when a gay son and his lover pay a surprise visit to his Italian-American family as they gear up to host his sister's wedding. Bumbalo wrote Niagara Falls during the same period in which it is set — the 1970s — and while the gay rights movement has made strides since then, he says "I don't think it will ever date. The same issues are going on right now ... there are still a lot of stereotypes." Even so, the playwright stresses, this is a comedy. He's not looking to do any straight-bashing. "It's not a put-down of anybody. I'm not a soapbox writer." No, just a keen observer of how people, especially parents and newly betrothed couples, behave when faced with situations that have more questions than answers.

July 16-Aug. 2, 8 p.m., $25, Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St., 215-627-1088, quinceproductions.com.