The Ritz

Ritz, The (1975), a comedy by Terrence McNally. [ Longacre Theatre, 400 perf.] The Ritz is a steam bath catering to homosexuals. To it come Gaetano Proclo (Jack Weston), a garbage man who signs himself in as Carmine Vespucci, the name of the murderous brother‐in‐law from whom he is attempting to hide; Michael Brick (Stephen Collins), a detective hired by the real Vespucci to follow Proclo; and the real Vespucci (Jerry Stiller), bent on killing Proclo. While pursuing their own ends, they are pursued by a collection of homosexuals all out for an hour's fun. By the end of the evening, Proclo has gotten Carmine gagged and bound and has left him to be fought over by a policeman and a pervert whose special delight is fat men. This uproarious farce makes an interesting comparison with a farce of a half century before, Ladies' Night i n a Turkish Bath. The pieces vividly demonstrate the remarkable change in mores that has occurred, while suggesting that well‐made theatrical bedlam can find a home in any social climate. Oddly, a 1983 Broadway revival of The Ritz closed on opening night.