Who's Afraid of the Morality Police?

Once upon the 1950s, the world was even more dangerous and complicated for gays than it is now. As a result, they had to make more and better jokes. A document of this phenomenon is Staircase, a new production of a vintage 1960s play concerning the lives of our heroes, Charlie and Harry. They're a crotchety old couple (think La Cage aux Folles) in a day and age when homosexuality is illegal — thus, their marriage is a threat to law enforcement. Hilarity, as they say, ensues. Touted as highly bitchy, Charles Dyer's script thrives on the conflict between old-fashioned bigotry and the emerging tolerance of the moment — but keep in mind that the moment is 1966. Colorful scarves and hairdressing abound.
Nov. 15-Dec. 16, 8 p.m., 2007