By Kimberly Rau
Wilbury’s season opener is the world premiere of Don May’s “Same Difference,” a show that takes two very different men on the fringe of society who believe they have nothing in common, and puts them under the lens of the one person who sees them better than they see themselves.
It’s Rhode Island in 1993. Brenda is a lounge singer from New York who moved to Providence to get away from her past, including a streetwise ex-boyfriend, Alley Cat. But when the show opens, Alley is on her doorstep, with a gunshot wound and nowhere to go. She takes him in, but the deeply homophobic Alley soon clashes with roommate Joel, whose sexuality and gender expression are as foreign to Alley as his street life is to Joel. On top of that, Joel’s ex partner and Brenda’s friend Aaron is dying from HIV, and her time and loyalties are soon divided between those closest to her, none of whom want to be in the same room together. And their other friends and lovers are caught in the fray. In the end of course, it’s clear that the misinformation and hate pushing both groups out of society’s collective sympathy makes the two men more alike than different.
Providence-based writer/director Mays has assembled a terrific cast to showcase his new work. Rosalyn Tavarez, playing Brenda, has a strong stage presence, infectious laugh and a smooth, smoky voice that makes you think you’re in a dimly lit nightclub, not a theater. Her chemistry is particularly strong with JāQuan Malik Jones, who plays Alley Cat. Jones plays his role well, going from affable with Brenda to downright hostile toward Joel, played by Alex LeBlanc. LeBlanc clearly understands his role and performs it well. When Jones and LeBlanc clash, the tension is palpable. Meanwhile, Noah Martinez, who plays Aaron, is a constant presence in a hospital bed on a platform above the rest of the set. Martinez serves as a tangible reminder that death is ever-present, and whether that comes from a virus or a bullet seems like a negligible difference.
This is a show that tackles important topics in a highly accessible way, which is particularly vital as we move further and further away from the AIDs crisis of the ’80s and ’90s. That said, “Same Difference” lacked some of the polish I’ve come to expect from Wilbury productions. Some of the dialogue felt stilted and overly expository, while other plot points felt under-explained.
The finishing touches weren’t consistently present. Props are one of those things that can take you out of the moment if they are not correct, and unfortunately, the clearly empty bags, cups and even cremation urn did just that. A little sand goes a long way. This shouldn’t dissuade you from seeing it by a long shot. Just know that new work is often still evolving, and that may be the case here.
“Same Difference” doesn’t attempt to sugar coat things. This was a brutal time to be part of a marginalized population, and unfortunately for many, it still is. But in the midst of tragedy, you still have to get out of bed and live your life, and that’s what our characters do, until they can’t anymore. Wilbury prides itself on giving new work a platform, and they’ve got something good here. “Same Difference” has a strong heart, achingly human characters and a powerful message, and is well worth your support.
“Same Difference” runs through Oct. 11, 2026, at The Wilbury Theatre Group, 475 Valley St., Providence (inside the Waterfire Arts Center). Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at thewilburygroup.org or by calling 401.400.7100 Ext 0.
