The Sum of Us
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- This article is about a play and its subsequent film adaptation. For the album, see The Sum of Us.
The Sum of Us is a play by David Stevens.
The plot revolves around the comfortable relationship between widower Harry and his gay son Jeff and their individual searches for the right mate. Harry unconditionally loves his Rugby-playing son, and even takes an active part in Jeff's search for Mr. Right. Harry reveals that his grandmother was a lesbian, perhaps accounting for his accepting attitude toward Jeff. Eventually Harry, via a video dating service, finds a woman that he likes, a divorcee named Joyce, who may not be so understanding after spying a gay magazine in Harry and Jeff's house. Jeff's boyfriend, who is closeted from his own homophobic father, finds it difficult to relate to Harry's well-meaning matchmaking ways. Unfortunately, Harry suffers a massive stroke and is disabled, leaving him unable to speak or walk. Jeff cares for him as best as he can, while Jeff's boyfriend is ejected from his own home when his homophobic father sees him on TV in a gay parade. Harry and Jeff meet up with him in the supermarket one day, and Harry gives Jeff the go-ahead to go and see if Jeff can rekindle their relationship.
The play, directed by Kevin Dowling, opened on October 16, 1990 at the off-Broadway Cherry Lane Theatre, where it ran for 335 performances. Tony Goldwyn and Richard Venture headed the cast.
A 1994 Australian film version directed by Dowling and Geoff Burton starred Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson. The screen adaptation mimics the play's device of breaking the fourth wall with direct to camera conversational asides by both Harry and Jeff. Stevens' screenplay won awards from the Australian Film Institute and the Montréal World Film Festival, and the movie was named Best Film at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
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Kevin Dowling, director,producer http://imdb.com/name/nm0235852/
