There shouldn’t be a gay man alive who doesn’t know of Grindr, little alone used the dating app to pick up a one-night stand. Bears, silver foxes, twinks, daddies, leather…they’re all on there, not to mention those so called ‘straight’ married guys with the anonymous blank profile. Oh yes, the popular family guy, with the great job and footy mates who also happened to bully the shit out of you in high school. Hmm…so what if HE turned up on Grindr and didn’t recognise you? Wouldn’t that be the perfect opportunity for revenge, not to mention a story!
Fag Boy and The Married Guy takes that exact scenario down a very dark road of fear and intense mixed emotions in a racy psychological thriller.
They say that revenge is a dish best served cold, and when Will brings his old foe Alex home for a date, he certainly plays it to the max. After drugging his old foe’s drink Will has the unique opportunity to finally get even. Helplessly bound to a chair xx is at the mercy of his captor in a situation reminiscent of other classic plays such as William Mastrosimone’s Extremities and Anthony Shaffer’s Sleuth.
For Tunks, the story’s premise and inspiration is one known all too well within the gay community, where many grew up amidst bullying and abuse.
“As gay men, we go through a lot when we come out”, say Tunks. “While it may be getting easier, things are still hard and kids can be cruel. How much effect does this have on the rest of our lives? Some people, who really went through the wars, struggle to ever get over it. I also wanted to explore the idea of whether homophobes are secretly hiding an interest in men. Do our biggest haters hate us so much because they are secretly battling their own urges? Furthermore, forgiveness, letting go and acceptance are themes that also come under the spotlight.”
Playing the role of Will is Billie Scott who also starred in Tunk’s The Girlie Show at the old 505 Theatre and popular musical theater star Stephen Mahy plays Alex.
While Mahy is known for Rocky Horror’s Brad and Grease’s Kenickie, this new role is a far cry from shaking his booty in tight pants – although audiences will love the buffed up Mahy shirtless and bound to a chair!
Mahy himself found the role somewhat confronting. “When I go to say the play’s title, I baulk,” he says. “It is a jarring title. But when I read what it was about, I realised just how poignant it is. It’s written by a gay man, and it really poses questions about facing one’s sexuality.”
Having said that, the play and characters are so intense that finding character motivation must be something of a mental challenge. “Preparing for such a role is hard,” says Mahy. “I had to research the play and its subject and this role requires a lot of energy and focus, but I think every role causes some emotional stress whether it be good or bad. I was bullied and I bullied at school without even knowing it. Being a teenager is awful and growing up in that scenario makes me feel awful. This will challenge audience members to feel so many things. I think everyone will either love or hate our characters, and be one-sided throughout the play.”
When it comes to the writing of gay themed plays there is no shortage of subject matter. Coming out, homophobia, AIDS, parodies and even camped-up diva devotion can evoke the best of stories. But the old cat-and-mouse tale is somewhat unique for this genre.
When Fag Boy & The Married Guy first premiered in 2012 at Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival, it sold out, gaining mostly positive reviews. “The pressure gets so strong at one point in the script that twice we had women almost faint, in the exact same spot of the play, and had to leave the theatre. As a producer you worry about them, but as a writer you can’t help but feel good that your work had such a psychical impact.
Yet, as a one-act play, some critics felt it could have expanded and delved further, perhaps even darker. Tunks, is no stranger to the writing game having spent close to twenty years in independent theatre and as a writer for TV’s Neighbours. Influenced by the likes of David Williamson (Emerald City) and Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing) he’s tweaked his art further, upping the thriller element and creating a new ending – one that many will be eager to see.
“I think people are going to enjoy what we’ve done with the show,” says and excited Tunks. “And I think they may also be a little shocked.”
Fag Boy & The Married Guy plays from September 20 at the New Theatre, Newtown
For more visit www.newtheatre.org.au
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