That’s What’s Friends Are For

Rouse (A Wish for Winter, written as Violet Shipman) delivers an affectionate queer homage to The Golden Girls that reads like a sitcom, complete with broad characters, amusing zingers, and poignant life lessons. It stars four “gay men of a certain age” who live together in Palm Springs: sarcastic Teddy secretly reels form a cancer diagnosis; Barry, an actor, frets over the state of his career; Sid despairs over never having been in love at 81; and sweet Ron struggles with his people-pleasing tendencies. The guys regularly perform in drag as The Golden Gays, reenacting episodes of their favorite show. After Sid is the victim of a homophobic attack at a drag story hour, he falls for Leo, a decades-younger TV news reporter interested in his story. But Leo’s mother disapproves of their relationship, causing friction. Meanwhile, Barry’s ex, Kyle, offers him a film role that may restart his career but comes with sexual strings attached. Adding to the drama is the unexpected arrival of Teddy’s estranged sister, Trudy, and her granddaughter, Ava. Before long, secrets are spilled on stage and off, with characters finding healing along the way. Rouse delivers both humor and heart as he emphasizes that “being a friend is the role of a lifetime.” The result is equally breezy and heartfelt. (Mar.)