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About The New Play Retribution

The developing evolution of the title Retribution is illuminating about the entire play.

For over a decade, 40+ year resident San Diego playwright/actor/director/instructor J Marcus Newman (the erstwhile Nonnie Vishner) has been refining his second play to explore the intersection of "relationship" and "marriage."

Originally, with inspiration from the Divine (Miss M), Newman’s work strove to examine what could finally happen when a young gay couple, shepherded by their older community friends, say Gee I Really Love You on their way to a small-town chapel to get legally married.

Then, drawing deeper inspiration from Jerry Herman, Matt realizes [I] Got Lost in [his] arms of the high school musical lead in “Annie Get Your Gun”/star quarterback and find that comfort and security of home not only for their first dance, but forever more.

As the world turns and old wounds are re-opened, Ben, the one non-local resident among this octet of gay and lesbian friends, breaks his back figuring out how best to help them understand that, having promised his Holocaust survivor father and his AIDS victim husband, he would Never Again allow them to do that to us.

Sometimes, during refinement, practicality informs change. In this case, the focus zoomed in on just the two male couples.

Retribution became the answer. The play is ready.

Retribution Storyline

In and around a large bed in a simple set, two couples explore complex internal conflicts as well as their responses to persistent external incitement.

Ben’s rage has been simmering for decades.

First his father was interred by the Nazis as a child in a concentration camp, then his lover died of AIDS amidst the Bible-wielding people he grew up with, and now Ben’s protégé Scott gets beaten up at his own wedding.

That was the last straw. Ben responds violently to this third affront with a deeply personal protestation of “Never again!”- fulfilling the pledge he made to his father.
His husband Harry remains his steadfast support.

Meanwhile, Matt simply wants a home, marriage to his hero and a child with lesbian friends. Scott prefers to fight for the idea of equality as a cause rather than a reality.

meet the founder

Founder and producer J Marcus Newman is a lifelong advocate for the arts with extensive experience presenting groundbreaking, creative, and engaging dramatic work. As a former theatre teacher at San Diego State University, Southwestern College, and MiraCosta Community College, Marcus has coached students of all levels, providing thoughtful instruction in a safe and inclusive environment where actors can thrive. In San Diego, Marcus’ efforts have helped showcase new work at Playwrights Project, Fritz Blitz, the Streisand Festival of New Jewish Plays, and the Gaslamp Quarter Theatre Company, with directing credits at Coronado Playhouse, North Coast Repertory Theatre, and 6th at Penn, among others.

Written and directed by J Marcus Newman

Moms In America

Written and directed by J. Marcus Newman, Moms In America debuted its world premiere as an official part of the 2006 San Diego LGBTQIA+ Pride event. Produced in a temporary found space near historic Liberty Station, the play focuses on three generations: Pop, an 86-year-old immigrant garment worker and survivor of the Cossack pogroms; Dad, a 54-year-old minor-drunk-intellectual-politico who survived the hazy ’60s and Woodstock; and Son, a 28-year-old gay theatre artist and survivor of coming out and HIV/AIDS.

Cast photo
L–R: Jay Michael Fraley, Edwin Eigner, Paul Halem