Reprinted with permission from Stonewall News Northwest

I WAS BETTER LAST NIGHT: A MEMOIR  HARVEY FIERSTEIN © 2022 Knopf, 400 pages 

At the start of my writing journey, brimming with dreams and youthful naivety, I sent my screenplay to Harvey Fierstein. I didn’t expect a response — he was Harvey Fierstein, after all, a Broadway legend, a Tony-winning playwright, a voice that could shake the heavens. 

But to my astonishment, he wrote me back. He kindly explained that he was too busy to read the manuscript but wished me luck. Then, with a thoughtful gesture, he signed it and returned it to me. That’s the kind of person Harvey is: generous, thoughtful, and deeply human. 

Reading his memoir, I Was Better Last Night, brought all this rushing back. It’s not just a book; it’s a window into the life of a man who has shaped theater, challenged norms, and lived a life as bold and unapologetic as his work. 

Harvey’s life is a tapestry of contradictions: glamorous and gritty, triumphant and tragic, larger-than-life yet achingly relatable. He takes us through his journey as a playwright, from the groundbreaking Torch Song Trilogy to his other iconic works, and you can feel the weight of his passion for storytelling. He doesn’t just write plays; he writes lives — messy, complicated, beautiful lives. 

Torch Song Trilogy alone is a masterpiece that changed the landscape of theater. It was bold, unapologetic, and deeply personal, tackling themes of love, loss, and identity at a time when such topics were taboo. It earned him two Tony Awards: one for Best Play and another for his unforgettable performance as Arnold Beckoff. And that was just the beginning. 

Harvey went on to create a remarkable body of work, solidifying his legacy as a theatrical powerhouse. Among his most iconic achievements is La Cage aux Folles, a dazzling and groundbreaking musical that celebrates love and family in all their forms. The show earned six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and remains a landmark in Broadway history. 

His other works include Newsies, Casa Valentina, A Catered Affair, and Bella Bella, each showcasing his storytelling prowess. Notably, Harvey also cowrote the book for Kinky Boots, a vibrant, high-heeled celebration of individuality and acceptance. With music by Cyndi Lauper, the show became a global sensation, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. 

Harvey isn’t just a brilliant playwright — he’s also a remarkable actor, and his performances are as iconic as his scripts. He originated the role of Edna Turnblad in the Broadway production of Hairspray, a heartwarming and hilarious portrayal that earned him yet another Tony Award. His other credits are equally impressive, spanning productions like Torch Song Trilogy, Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage Aux Folles, Gently Down the Stream, and A Catered Affair. 

On-screen, Harvey brought his charisma to memorable roles in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, where he played the makeup artist who helped transform Robin Williams into the beloved nanny, as well as in Independence Day and Cheers. 

Whether commanding the stage, stealing scenes on screen, or working behind the curtain, Harvey’s boundless talent continues to leave an indelible mark on every project he takes on. 

And then there’s Andy Warhol. Harvey’s stories about rubbing elbows with Warhol and the Factory crowd are as surreal as they are hilarious. He paints a vivid picture of a world where art and chaos collided, where everyone was trying to be someone, and where Harvey, somehow, was just Harvey. 

What struck me most was his unflinching honesty about the darker facets of his life. He writes about living in Brooklyn and navigating intimate encounters with a rawness that is at once startling and profoundly moving. The early 1980s was a period when the Gay community was beginning to find its voice, freedom, and power. Yet it was also a time marked by the growing shadow of the AIDS epidemic. The trucks and piers of New York City became sanctuaries of liberation, offering a space for men to explore their desires in a world that largely rejected them. But these same spaces came with significant risks, and Harvey confronts that reality head-on. 

He masterfully captures the duality of the era: the exhilaration of newfound sexual freedom against the harrowing fear and grief wrought by the AIDS crisis. Through it all, his humanity shines through. He neither romanticizes his experiences nor condemns them. Instead, he presents them with unvarnished truth, as essential pieces of his story and identity. 

Harvey’s battle with alcohol is another thread in this rich tapestry. He doesn’t sugarcoat it. He lays it bare, showing us the pain, the struggle, and the eventual triumph. It’s a reminder that even the strongest among us have their demons, and that overcoming them is a lifelong journey. 

If you’re a theater lover or someone fascinated by the lives of celebrities, this is the book for you. Harvey’s writing is sharp, funny, and deeply engaging. Not once was I bored. He has a way of pulling you into his world, keeping you hooked with every chapter, every confession, every laugh-out-loud moment. It’s the kind of book you don’t want to put down, and when you do, you feel like you’ve just spent time with an old friend. 

I Was Better Last Night isn’t just a memoir; it’s a love letter to life in all its messy, beautiful glory. It’s a reminder that even legends like Harvey Fierstein are, at their core, just people — flawed, fabulous, and utterly unforgettable. 

And Harvey, if you’re reading this, thank you for signing my screenplay all those years ago. It meant the world to me.