The Extinction of Fireflies
Starring Drew Droege as an embattled playwright and long-time producing partner Michael Urie as his would-be protege, The Extinction of Fireflies is pure “theater on-screen” goodness. I have a great love for theater, but growing up in the midwest meant that opportunities to see good theater were few and far between (it’s gotten better, but this was the ‘90s!). So I did what any teenager strapped for resources (read: poor) would do, I stole it from the internet. I spent hours downloading anybody's handycam footage of one-half of a play before they ran out of tape. I watched every poorly lit video rendition of Memories from Cats and every barely audible line as Molina shares his fantasies with Valentin in Kiss of the Spiderwoman.
There’s something about the starkness of the stage, the vastness that allows you to fill in the empty spaces with imaginative flair as the performances transport you into another world. At its essence, The Extinction of Fireflies is a play. It just happens to be filmed, but the filming is almost beside the point.
Adapted from a play by James Andrew Walsh, the cast is sparse, featuring 4 characters who play to an invisible audience. Drew Droege is perfect as the world-weary James who just wants to create a show, but darn these real-life responsibilities. Michael Urie is Jay who is eager to please and wants desperately to be seen even though he’s not completely found himself. Tracie Bennett is Charlotte, an aged actress who would be washed up except no one has told her. She’s wonderfully exuberant and has a style that can’t be ignored. And finally Kario Marcel as Callisto, the mysterious heartthrob that is the embodiment of the meme, “Is he perfect, or is he just a good masseuse? Is he perfect? Or does he listen when you talk?” His character’s charm is equal parts frustrating and coveted. It creates a fascinating dynamic, particularly with James. He’s attracted to Callisto on several levels, but also despises the notes he has for James’ play.
A weekend script read turns into a spiritual journey where everyone is terrible and the points don’t matter.