Millennial Notes

John Fisher’s Dynamic Duo Delivers Queer Thrills 

by Isa S. Chu

“Fallin” is a thrilling mashup of a high-octane action story and a bittersweet rom com set against the pulse of today’s ever-changing political spectacle. The play’s title cleverly nods to the myriad ways we fall—falling from planes, falling in love, and, perhaps most poignantly, falling for lies and deceptions.

John Fisher’s integration of recent events into the script makes “Fallin” a living, breathing, political whirlwind. Fisher nimbly pulls it off as writer, director, and actor. A triple threat!

The queer duo of The Colonel (John Fisher) and Lieutenant Day (Raye Goh) take us on a thrilling journey from lush Central Park to treacherous mountains. They are fleeing from their past as CIA spies while evading invisible enemies and untangling secret agendas.

The contrast between Fisher and Goh is striking and endearing. Goh’s smaller stature stands in sharp relief against Fisher’s towering presence. Together, they create a visual dynamic that contrasts their characters’ personalities and beliefs.

The Colonel’s puppy-like neediness charms and repels, when paired with Day’s revulsion at any displays of affection. Yet, beneath the surface, you can see their love and care for each other.

They navigate a shared mission, proving that even the most mismatched couples can triumph when they working for a common goal. Like the Harris-Walz ticket, two wildly different partners form an effective team.

Their jaw-dropping physical adventures include scaling mountains, surviving a plane crash, and escaping the ocean’s depths. Fisher directs a “surround-action” experience the explordes into every corner of the storefront Theatre Rhino. Lights and projections flicker and dance across the walls, as sounds reverberate.

Tech maestro Raphael Buenaventura, Rhino’s secret weapon, effortlessly switches between multiple roles while managing lights and sound. His multitasking magic, out front, offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse, adding another layer of charm.

Claire Elliott is brilliant as Senator Bevis, a politician who is all about the glitz with little substance. Elliott dives headfirst into every cliché, turning them into shameless self-promotion—like you-know-who. Her tactics are so blatantly obvious, they are laughable.

At one point, Bevis questions the connection between the Colonel, a gay man, and Day, a non-binary womxn. Is their love truly queer? Day’s momentary hesitation becomes a point of vulnerability that Bevis exploits.

The rich satire and comedy heighten questions of self-discovery and queer identity. This odd couple reminds us that love, in all its forms, remains complex and undefinable in a world that’s quick to judge.

An infectious, childlike joy runs through “Fallin,” reflecting Fisher’s deep love for theater. The actors are uninhibited, joyful, and committed at each moment. By the show’s end, I was grinning ear to ear, even as the play’s themes challenge us to reflect on our mad, mad world.

“FALLIN” –written & directed by John Fisher, costumes by Crystal Liu, sound by Raphael Buenaventura, lighting by Colin Johnson, set construction by Lawrence Dillon & Danny Dillon, graphic design by Scott Sidorsky.

—at Theatre Rhinoceros, 4229 18^th Street at Castro, San Francisco. Info: TheRhino.org – to September 15, 2024.

Cast: John Fisher, Raye Goh, Claire Elliott, and Raphael Buenaventura.

Banner photo: John Fisher & Raye Goh. Photos: Scott Sidorsky