Gaybies - Darlinghurst Theatre Co

Overview

Gaybies is a fun and insightful night of verbatim theatre, as writer/director Dean Bryant’s interviews with the children of same-sex couples are brought to the stage. Their real-life stories of growing up with gay parents generate positive, good-natured vibes within the Eternity Playhouse, which has been turned into a daggy Aussie community hall by designer Owen Phillips.

The details and nuances of each child’s story — the unique personality of each ‘gaybie’ taking the stage — is the pulling point of this theatre experience. As each interviewee, whether four years old or 40, explains their situation to us/society, it becomes clear they are Such. Strong. People. The argument for gay parenting/gay marriage is never explicitly stated in this show; however, it’s supported by these beautiful individuals. It’s uncanny to see such characters, who may be otherwise written off or stereotyped, delivering truth bombs and progressive societal wisdom. In this way, quietly, the show screams, "don’t you dare make assumptions of me!"

The actors do a great job in bringing the interviewees to life and making their language seem natural — not an easy feat. This pulls the audience’s hearts into their stories and keeps the 90-minute piece entertaining. They are wonderfully tight on their cues, which prevents any one anecdote from becoming slow. The way the cast (Cooper George Amai, Sheridan Harbridge, Rhys Keir, Steve Le Marquand, Zindzi Okenyo, Olivia Rose and Georgia Scott) work together to create a dynamic, surging, evolving narrative is Gaybies' greatest strength. And the subject matter really matters to these actors. That transfers to the audience and makes what we’re watching seem like an important moment in history — it's just before the "old conservatives die off" (to quote one teenage interviewee) and Australian society sees big reforms.

The musical numbers of Gaybies are unexpected and at first seem guilty of over-sentimentality. Thankfully, the considerable musical talent of the cast and their exquisite, very contrasting voices (as well as quick recommencement of dialogue that leaves no time for musical theatre post-song applause) means they pull it off.

Gaybies sheds an interesting light on the comparative liberties and opportunities available to the children of these same-sex couples, especially those who identify as queer. We hear what their parents endured and fought for, and the pressure they felt as they raised their children: “If we failed, gay people failed”. The insights run deep from these progeny of same-sex couples. The takeaway from the whole project? “My choice is valid”.