Lucas Brooks

VGL 5'4" Top

Sick and tired of short jokes and snobbery amongst the gay population, Lucas, a sexually frustrated and vertically challenged young top, is ready to fight back. Armed with only a laptop and a quick wit, our gallant hero addresses the loaded topic of sex and how it divides us, rather than unites us, in a time of need.

"VGL" was first presented at the LGBT Community Center in New York City in May 2009. Since then it has been performed at the legendary Stonewall Inn and the San Francisco Fringe Festival. In 2013, "VGL" will be a part of the FRIGID Festival in New York February 22 - March 1, and the Toronto Fringe Festival July 3-14.

Tickets for FRIGID New York are available here.

"From first glance, one would think this 45 minute show is all laughs and titillation. After all, the sexy young writer/star Lucas Brooks does perform the entire show in his underwear.

And yes, Brooks takes us through his dating life as a vertically challenged man that involves a lot of internet profiles and actions. “VGL” shows how easy it is we disregard someone who might be too tall, too old, too short, too hairy, too Latin, too religious or too poor. Sure, especially men, we rely on looks to attract a partner or date – but Brooks reminds us that there’s more to chemistry than just boxes we check on an online dating site.

He also tugs at the heart a bit when he reminds us that while these difference seem to divide us, we need to focus on more with what unites us like fighting for gay marriage.

The 5’4” top made a big impression. I walked away thinking a lot about the boxes I check and the way I look at people. Very thought provoking."

- Kevin Thomas, The Examiner

"In his monologue entitled VGL 5'4" TOP, Brooks describes his sexual evolution from a horny (if somewhat naive) Midwestern gay boy into a sophisticated kinkster trying to navigate the intricate contradictions of New York's gay community. Brooks finds himself continually challenged by rudeness masquerading as attitude, internalized homophobia attempting to pass itself off as superiority, and vapidity eclipsing vitality.

Nowhere is this more frustrating than the highly-addictive landscape of on-line gay male social networks such as Adam4Adam, Manhunt,Gay.com, and Craigslist. As someone who is not easily stereotyped (he's too smart to be a twink, too smooth to be a bear, too short to impress people as a top, and too protective of his asshole to be a power bottom), Lucas is hardly the first gay man to suffer from on-line overobjectification. Confronted by an on-line questionnaire which asks "If you could dress up your asshole, what would it wear?" he offers a simple response: duct tape.

Clad only in a pair of briefs, Brooks manages to keep the audience's attention above his crotch with his strong storytelling skills, laser-sharp wit, and appealing personality."

- George Heymont, My Cultural Landscape