Dear Cassandra,
Don Briscoe's character, Donald, is the best friend (and former, uh, snuggle buddy) of the protagonist of the ensemble play, Michael. (I believe that future DS performer Christopher Bernau played Michael opposite Don Briscoe, and I've often wondered whether Briscoe might have encouraged Bernau to join the cast of DS). In the film version Donald was played by Frederick Combs, who originated the part in the initial production. I think Don and Chris were the replacement cast while the originals were making the movie which was directed by William Friedkin.
Boys in the Band is set at a birthday party and tells the story of a group of friends through the snapshot of one evening they spend together. It was the first successful gay play in which the fact that the characters were gay was just a given, not some major dramatic revelation unveiled at the climax of the play, and is often described as the first gay play in which none of the characters is killed or commits suicide.
The style of it ranges from acid wit to florid melodrama, with occasional flashes of innocence and debauchery to leaven the mix. I quite like the movie version--some people hate it.
To Scout: Don Briscoe wasn't responsible for his hair on the show; stylist Irene Hamalain was.
Gothick
