Larry Clarke Has “Perfect pitch” In Streamers

A revival of David Rabe’s Streamers just opened here at the Roundabout, and Larry Clarke (great friend of my brother, and of the entire O’Malley clan in general, not to mention Cashel) plays Sergeant Cokes.

Larry and J.D. Williams

The review is up in the Times. It’s a great review. I’ve been looking forward to seeing it. Larry played the role in a production in Boston at the Huntington that garnered such raves they have brought it to New York.

The review closes with these words:

“Streamers” is not perfectly put together. The play circles its themes for too long and becomes repetitive. And the monologue that closes it, delivered with perfect pitch by Larry Clarke as the gonzo Sergeant Cokes, is overwritten.

But this last, rambling speech contains a truth that sheds a hard light on all that has passed. Only the soused Sergeant Cokes, suffering from heart problems, achieves a measure of wisdom about what matters and what doesn’t, given the unpredictable coming and the unavoidable fact of death.

Hearing Richie sobbing, he interrupts his tale of a fatal freak accident to ask what’s wrong. “He’s queer,” Roger answers. Unexpectedly, this bleary-eyed man’s man doesn’t flinch. “Boy, I tell you it’s a real strange thing the way havin’ these heart arrhythmias give you a lotta funny thoughts about things,” he says. “Two months ago — or maybe even yesterday — I’da called a boy who was a queer a lotta awful names. But now I just wanna be figurin’ things out.”

Good for you, Larry. Can’t wait to see it.

Here’s the whole review.