←Recommendations of The Twentieth-Century Way

Tom Jacobson’s The Twentieth-Century Way is a masterclass in theatrical ingenuity—razor-sharp, darkly playful, and unsettlingly relevant. The script crackles with electric dialogue, shifting effortlessly between period authenticity and modern urgency. Jacobson crafts a world where identity is as fluid as performance, leaving the audience teetering between complicity and voyeurism. The layered improvisations aren’t just dazzling—they’re a trap, drawing us deeper into the moral murk. This is theater that doesn’t just entertain; it lingers, it unsettles, it demands something of you.

A plot that keeps you on your toes for sure! Two very versatile actors play multiple roles in this very theatrical fast paced two-hander that explores the dark history of gays in Long Beach in the early 1900's.
Challenging roles for two strong actors. Highly recommend.

“The Twentieth Century Way” – This two-hander explores a troubling time in gay history in Long Beach, CA. early in the 20th century. Two unemployed actors are snared by police into real time survival jobs as “vice specialists,” hanging out in public restrooms entrapping and arresting gay men. The play merges the theatricality of two desperate actor/ bounty hunters as they “play” cops, journalists, lawyers and of course, themselves in this absurdist tragedy of a little known moment in history. It’s a feast for two good actors and I saw them do it.

An incredibly compelling and deceptively complex two-hander, THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY WAY shines a light on a fascinating historical event while simultaneously meditating on the nature of acting, deception, and identity. While reading, I couldn’t help imagining how I’d pull it off as a director or designer. A tremendous challenge for two versatile actors, I hope to see a production of this in person someday. Highly recommended!