by brad hart
In 1965, Greenwich Village hosts an illegal backroom cabaret named The Never Get, where lovers Trevor and Arthur perform an act that openly celebrates gay romance for audiences who share their views. As they sing through the closing moments of a transformative decade, they navigate the conflicting temptations of career success and personal freedom—will their relationship endure? With a rich, seductive score drawing from the Great American Songbook, Midnight at the Never Get offers a dreamy musical exploration of memory, personal and political bravery and the enduring power of love.
This month, Diversionary Theatre presents the West Coast premiere of the show. Featuring a captivating book, lyrics and music by the talented Mark Sonnenblick, conceived by the creative trio of Sam Bolen, Max Friedman, and Mark Sonnenblick and skillfully directed by Stephen Brotebeck, this new production promises to enthrall audiences. Due to high demand, Midnight at The Never Get has been extended and will run through Sunday, November 24.
Bryan Banville (The Mystery of Irma Vep, Significant Other) returns to the Diversionary stage as Trevor. The cast also stars Cody Bianchi in their Diversionary debut as Arthur, and Troy Tinker as Older Trevor.
THE RAGE MONTHLY CAUGHT UP WITH BANVILLE TO DISCOVER MORE.
What inspired you to audition for this role?
I learned about Midnight at the Never Get in 2019 from a close friend and instantly fell in love with the music and the era of the show. The story’s backdrop is 1960s New York City and explores what it means to be who you really are at a time when it wasn’t acceptable to live authentically. Match that with songs inspired by the Great American Songbook and you are immediately drawn into the show!
Please provide us with a brief description of your character.
I play Trevor Copeland, a budding cabaret singer in New York City in the 1960s who has broken away from a more conservative setting to leave his mark on the world. Trevor leads with his heart and quickly falls in love with a songwriter. The story follows their relationship across the decade and the ups and downs they experience.
What do you enjoy the most about portraying this role?
Trevor is a very complex character affected by one of humanity’s most powerful experiences – being in love. Trevor leads with vulnerability, which sometimes helps him, and other times truly hurts him. I love how open and accepting Trevor is and how deeply he loves. It may hurt but it can be transformative to portray a character like that.
How has your experience been collaborating with Cody Bianchi in their portrayal of Arthur?
Cody is a wonderfully giving and passionate actor and it has been a joy working on Midnight with him. Cody plays the piano for the ENTIRE show and easily locks into our scenes together from behind the keys. He portrays Arthur with lots of compassion, when it’s not always easy to do. I can’t wait for people to experience him in this show.
What do you hope that audiences, especially LGBTQ members, will take away from the show in terms of emotions, thoughts and insights?
Oh wow! Someone who saw an earlier show described how “tender” the show was, which I think is an important word to dissect here. So often, gay love on stage is portrayed as overtly sexual or a “version of love” that is not based in reality. Midnight is a show that dives into a relationship between two humans and how love affects them in different ways. What I love about it most is its focus on the emotional intimacy that love creates between two people – thus making it a truly “tender” night of theater.
It’s also important to acknowledge that for Trevor and Arthur, it was not as simple as just being together, it was illegal to be in a relationship with another man back then. There is an ever-present danger in this play that impacts how each of them reacts to critical moments in their relationship.
I truly hope the show sparks conversation about our own perceptions of who we really are versus who we wanted to be.
What do you enjoy most about Diversionary Theatre and its productions?
This is my third production at Diversionary Theatre and I am thrilled to be back. When you do a show here, you are surrounded by community, which is invaluable, especially in a small cast show like this. The theatre also provides such an intimate space with the audience that the show is really a collective experience.
Please tell us about the activities you enjoy during your free time.
FREE TIME!? What’s that? I’m kidding – I have a wonderful family that takes up all my free time and brings me more joy than I can express in written form. We find ourselves on weekends enjoying time together in beautiful San Diego! I also love film and music and could spend every hour of every day in those mediums.
What are your upcoming career aspirations and goals?
I am a dual careerist, so I look forward to continuing to grow as a performer and enjoying my day job to the fullest!