Examining the gay struggle

Examining the gay struggle

Sydney audiences will be treated to an epic tale of gay love and friendship spanning more than 40 years this Mardi Gras, with the Australian premiere of The Paris Letter.

The play is the acclaimed work of American playwright Jon Robin Baitz — creator of family TV drama Brothers and Sisters.

As director Stephen Colyer told the Star Observer, The Paris Letter shares several similarities with Baitz’s high-profile television writing work — namely, a focus on telling the stories of older gay people, and of examining the tensions that arise in long-running friendships and relationships.

“Sometimes people point out that his shows don’t seem to be plot-driven, but I think that’s because he’s more interested in exploring people’s motivations and people’s interpersonal relationships, rather than just coming up with a sensational plot for the sake of it,” Colyer said.

Equal parts thriller and domestic tragedy, the play focuses on two friends who deal with their sexuality in radically different ways as they journey from 1962 to 2002.

One follows the dominant view of the time, that his sexuality is an illness that must be hidden and cured. The other manages to assert himself in society, accepting his sexuality with ease and living an openly gay life.

Throughout, their complicated friendship endures despite their diametrically opposing views about sexuality.

“In doing the research for the play, it seems very salient to remind audiences around Mardi Gras time that it was only in 1975 that homosexuality was stricken from the American medical register as a mental disease — and almost 10 years later here in Australia,” Colyer said.

He pointed out that despite improved social attitudes, bullying and gay youth suicide remain serious issues, marriage equality is hotly contested and “outings” such as that of former NSW state MP David Campbell can take a devastating personal and professional toll.

“When you look back at this pre-Stonewall era of the 1960s, you start to have more of an appreciation of the criminality of being gay back then. People were imprisoned for engaging in consensual gay sex.”

With a CV brimming with musical theatre directing credits, Colyer admitted he was enjoying the fresh challenge of helming a dramatic work, and a small, diverse cast including stage veterans
Peter Cousens, Susie Lindeman and Nicholas Papademetriou alongside up-and-comers Damian Sommerlad and Caleb Alloway.

“It’s a nice change, and particularly since they’re such a great cast. I’d be pulling my hair out if I didn’t have such wonderfully intelligent and detailed actors to work with.”

INFO: The Paris Letter, Darlinghurst Theatre, February 24 – March 25. www.darlinghursttheatre.com

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