AllMovie

With this astonishing concert film, audiences who missed this off-Broadway smash can get to see the supremely talented David Drake in his captivating one-man show. This semi-autobiographical performance piece contains several poignant stories about growing up gay in the ’90s. From his brilliant opening monologue describing the impact playwright Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart had on him to his amusing riff on “Why I Go to the Gym,” Drake give a fierce, full-bodied multi-character performance. Other segments include a vigil for friends and lovers he lost to AIDS, and his imaginative, idealized future – where the plague is cured, and Matt and Ben remake The Way We Were. With his rhythmic storytelling and his wry observations on gay life – from the young boy who wanted to grow up to be “big and tough like the Village People to the reminisces of a 16-year-old’s first kiss (from an older man – a 17-year-old) – The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me is a funny, knowing, and ultimately powerful collection of vignettes. Directed by Tim Kirkman who made the original documentary Dear Jesse .