FUN HOME
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
FROM
LESLIE MARBERRY
Dear Dad,
“I’m tired of hiding, so here it goes: I’m gay.
I don’t know what my future will bring, but I know that I still want to travel, I want to keep growing and learning, I want to make others feel loved, I want to marry a woman who brings out the best in me, I want to have children who never have to question if I love them or not, I want to have a warm and loving home, and I want to do the things I’m passionate about.
I wonder if you wanted any of these things too.
I love you.”
-Les
This was part of a letter I gave to my father years ago; the “coming out” letter. I couldn’t tell him to his face because I was terrified and all I wanted to do my entire life was make my parents proud. Alison Bechdel wanted the same. She yearned for her parents to really see her; to hold her; to love her unconditionally.
But how can one, as a parent, meet those needs when they’re numb and hiding?
Fun Home is a story depicting the life of the Bechdels and the family chaos that outsiders never see. It’s a story about a daughter and her father; the thing that ties them together and tears them apart. “The end of his life coincided with the beginning of her truth.” It’s a story about the need for a mother’s acceptance; a story about finding love in college and having the courage to tell the world. And it’s a story about finding connection even through the pain. I’m sure we can all resonate with at least one of these.
Alison leaps out of the closet while her father, Bruce, hides inside. There are so many people in the LGBTQ+ community that feel the need to hide who they are. And they often do. Coming out is difficult and dangerous more often than it should be. My hope is that you’ll leave this show with more confidence than you had before to show up as you truly are to the ones you trust.
Life is hard. Life is weird. Life is beautiful. We just have to be kind to each other.
I’d like to thank Street Theatre, my actors, crew, and designers for all of their phenomenal work on this production, and I’d also like to thank my family and beautiful partner, Delaney, for loving me so. Thank you for being my rock, Penguin.
I challenge you all to be unapologetically you and to love those around you for who they truly are. Love YOURSELF.
Enjoy Alison Bechdel’s true and heart-wrenching story, Fun Home.
-Les Marberry (Director)
