“I’m so horny.”

Three words that every character in the play uttered at least once, including a Catholic priest.

The critically-acclaimed off-Broadway play “Jeffrey” takes on many controversial topics, making them hilarious and serious at the same time.

As an example to this, aside from a Catholic priest muttering the words “I’m so horny” to a gay man, Jeffrey tries to give up sex after claiming to sleep with over 5,000 men since age 14.

The play starts with more and more men jumping onto Jeffrey’s bed. He decides with all of the problems that accompany sex, including the threat of becoming HIV positive, to give it up and find a substitute.

The substitute he immediately thinks of is putting all of his energy into his job. This doesn’t work, so he turns to something else.

He tries a masturbation society. Its motto: “Beats All.” This is destroyed almost immediately when bikers lock him in and attempt to molest him. His friends come to save him again, as the “Pink Panthers,” a security clan designed specifically for bigotry against homosexuals.

But Jeffrey’s biggest problem isn’t the lack of sex or seeing his friends suffer and die at an early age.

It is that he is in love with Steve, an HIV positive man.

Not wanting any surprises, Steve tells Jeffrey about his condition. Even though he can’t stop thinking about Steve, Jeffrey cancels the date,because of his fear. Jeffrey even decides to move away, not wanting to deal with the fact that the love of his life is sick.

A typical love story.

Or is it?

True, homosexuality is not considered the norm in our society, and there are a lot of people out there who have a major problem with it. These people should go see this play. Not only will they realize that there are different types of people in the world, they will also realize everyone has one thing in common: the ability to love.

This play deals with issues that many people ignore or avoid. The underlying theme of this play is not only the ability to love but also the ability to accept the fear of relationships.

“Jeffrey” is a fall-out-of-your-seat-laughing-hysterically-no-matter-who-you-are play that everyone will enjoy for the complete duration. It’s message lives on long after the curtains have closed.

The run lasts through this weekend at the Des Moines Civic Center.