“Now or Later” Informs and Entertains
By Shannon O’Connor 10-27-2012 
The election isswiftly approaching. And the Huntington Theatre Company’s production of “Now or Later” could not be more relevant. It is complete with intellectual, political banter, heart-wrenching emotion sequences and witty and humorous exchanges.
“Now or Later” delivers on many levels. When audience members enter the Virginia Wimberly Theatre, they are immediately struck with the simplicity of a modern hotel room set that includes contemporary gadgets such as a Keurig® brewer, a flat screen television and extremely fashionable furniture. But the well-designed set is nothing compared to the stellar performances.
Grant MacDermott headlines the production as John Jr. He plays the son of the future President of the United States which is, in turn, played with a brilliant balance of sympathy and authority by Tom Neils. Audiences are introduced to John Jr. through the revelation of his drunken stunt with his friend Matt. Michael Goldsmith portrays that character with humor and great intelligence.
John Jr. attended a college party with his friend dressed as Muhammad. His friend Matt dressed as a Christian pastor. The two men told the women at the party “they would burn in hell” if they expressed their free speech. Three photographs were snapped at the party depicting the future president’s son disgracing the religion of Islam. The photographs infiltrated the internet on the eve of John Sr.’s election. In this sequence the plot is immediately introduced.
Campaign staffers Marc (played by the beautifully stiff and serious Ryan King) and Tracy (represented by hilarious and aggressive Adriane Lenox) try to persuade John Jr. to release a statement apologizing for his behavior to quell possible disruptions. But John Jr. stubbornly stands up for his freedom of expression and refuses to compromise for the campaign. As the play delves further into John Jr.’s life, the audience sees how he continues to feel repercussions of his suicidal feelings that he once tried to act upon at the age of sixteen. The play later reveals that he is an openly gay man fighting not only for his father’s approval but attention after years of neglect.
While the majority of the show contrives a series of debates between John Jr. and the supporting characters, the production manages to find tangible themes that are relevant to situations brought up in today’s elections. The play’s hot-button issues include foreign policy with the Middle East to the legalization of same sex marriage.
The Huntington Theatre Company’s version of Christopher Shinn’s “Now or Later” manages to educate audiences while also remaining relevant to the day’s issues.