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My Night with Reg
An award-winning gay comedy of manners.
96 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 27, 2022
I think this is my 3rd reading of the play; read it when it first appeared in '94, then again when I taught an LGBT theater class in '99 - and I remember then how none of the students thought this a comedy - which it IS, in some respects - but it is also very melancholic and sometimes devastatingly sad. Judging from reviews on several revivals of a few years ago, it still 'plays', but like many AIDS generation plays, it does feel a bit dated - its continued relevance surely depends upon it really being about unrequited love - which never really goes out of date. Sigh.
Info on the film version: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217671/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmFz...
Info on the film version: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217671/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmFz...
December 24, 2015
It took a little while to get going but was marvellously enjoyable once it hit its stride. The fact that Reg is only ever referred to rather than seen is a classic theatrical idea but makes for a lot of nice, funny moments. The structure was spot on too. Heartbreaking, believable and filled with truth, My Night With Reg is a lovely read.
August 27, 2023
Superb.
July 17, 2021
Definitely need to see a production of this for it to truly come to life.
October 25, 2021
well written, didnt love. felt hopeless and traditional. nothing exciting
January 3, 2026
No shade, it’s just that playbooks aren’t v good.
February 6, 2015
Between reading Larry Kramer and then reading this work I'm beginning to believe I'll have no hope in finding a decent honorable gay guy to marry.
My Night With Reg concerns 7 guys. First there's Reg. Funny thing is that the reader is never introduced to Reg but we hear about him through the other characters. Then there's Guy. He's the one throwing the housewarming party and our introduction to the rest of this crew: Daniel, John, Bernie, Benny and Eric. We soon learn that all of Guy's guests have had "nights" with Reg. Daniel and Reg were supposed to be in a committed relationship with Reg but Reg had a long standing affair with John and brief sexual encounters with Bernie and Benny (another so called relationship) and Eric. Reg can't keep his cock in his trousers so he dies of AIDS and the rest of this crew unload all of their secrets and lies on poor Guy, Guy who's had an unrequited crush on John all these years.
This play might have been the cat's meow but I find it sad and shameful. I get sexual liberation and I acknowledge that so much was taken away from gay men that many gay guys felt the only thing they had control over was there bodies and sexual life. But, dammit, it's no longer like it was and it's fucking time that gay men grow up and stop using sexual liberation and the like as an excuse to fuck any man that will bend over. Geez.
My Night With Reg concerns 7 guys. First there's Reg. Funny thing is that the reader is never introduced to Reg but we hear about him through the other characters. Then there's Guy. He's the one throwing the housewarming party and our introduction to the rest of this crew: Daniel, John, Bernie, Benny and Eric. We soon learn that all of Guy's guests have had "nights" with Reg. Daniel and Reg were supposed to be in a committed relationship with Reg but Reg had a long standing affair with John and brief sexual encounters with Bernie and Benny (another so called relationship) and Eric. Reg can't keep his cock in his trousers so he dies of AIDS and the rest of this crew unload all of their secrets and lies on poor Guy, Guy who's had an unrequited crush on John all these years.
This play might have been the cat's meow but I find it sad and shameful. I get sexual liberation and I acknowledge that so much was taken away from gay men that many gay guys felt the only thing they had control over was there bodies and sexual life. But, dammit, it's no longer like it was and it's fucking time that gay men grow up and stop using sexual liberation and the like as an excuse to fuck any man that will bend over. Geez.
March 4, 2023
I saw this play performed and I loved reading it as much as I enjoyed watching it.
It follows a group of gay friends, and as someone who is bi and has a large group of gay friends, I found myself relating to a lot of this. Some of the conversations in this play I think I have had in real life word for word.
It is set to the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, and although some serious discussions are had, the tone overall is of a comedy. The line "I poured custard on my quiche" made me spit out my drink.
I think I related especially with the main character Guy, as I feel I fulfil a very similar role in my queer friendships. I tend to be someone that people rely on and trust with secrets. I also related a little too hard to the "I'm the one everyone likes but no-one fancies" line.
The only thing that didn't really work for me was the ending. I feel like it kind of stopped in the middle of a conversation. Although maybe that was the intention and I didn't understand the point.
It follows a group of gay friends, and as someone who is bi and has a large group of gay friends, I found myself relating to a lot of this. Some of the conversations in this play I think I have had in real life word for word.
It is set to the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, and although some serious discussions are had, the tone overall is of a comedy. The line "I poured custard on my quiche" made me spit out my drink.
I think I related especially with the main character Guy, as I feel I fulfil a very similar role in my queer friendships. I tend to be someone that people rely on and trust with secrets. I also related a little too hard to the "I'm the one everyone likes but no-one fancies" line.
The only thing that didn't really work for me was the ending. I feel like it kind of stopped in the middle of a conversation. Although maybe that was the intention and I didn't understand the point.
March 16, 2016
a work so implied that it requires, it demands a second, a third and more readings. and each reading allows the reader to learn and unlearn facets of life haunted by AIDS, unrequited love, homophobia, and even sarcasm, wit and humour seem to be the trademark of queer life.
November 22, 2011
Interesting play about AIDS but although this is still a problem the whole thing seemed terribly dated
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews