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OUT on a limb Life isn't just a cabaret for new queer theatre troupe by DAVID GOBEIL TAYLOR
So this spring, OUT Productions's first play will be a watershed of gay male theatre, Martin Sherman's Bent (translated into Québécois by Simard). Bent takes place in a concentration camp in World War II, when the Nazis imprisoned thousands of homosexuals. "The play talks about the history of the pink triangle," says King. "They had Stars of David for Jews and green triangles for criminals, but pink was the lowest of the low. The queer community doesn't realize to what extent it has a history and how it has made us who we are." King and Simard want to present a variety of plays, mirroring the diversified nature of the queer community, and they will not back down from plays by more critical writers than Sherman. "We can't be afraid of our own diversity," says Simard. "If people don't agree, if they're shocked, so much the better. We don't want to be safe like mainstream companies; we want to be on the edge. We don't necessarily want to portray a positive image of queers--we want to portray a real one." And, therefore, a diverse one. CabarOUT kicks off Divers/Cité on Wednesday, July 30 at Lion d'or, 1676 Ontario E. 8pm, (closet) doors open at 7pm. $6-10, 879-9721. See next week's issue for the Mirror's Cool Festival Guide to Divers/Cité |
David Allan King, along with Robert Simard, have started OUT Productions a new queer theatre company which will provide the opening show in this year's Divers/Cité, a cabaret fundraiser called CabarOUT, hosted by drag troupe Children of a Looser God. Twenty-three writers, actors, stand-up comics, dancers (flamenco and modern) and musicians donated their time to this "evening celebrating coming out." This theme is a common thread for all the performers and the show has been staged as one seamless presentation. "It's not an 'Okay, it's my turn to get up on stage now' cabaret," says King. "It's more rehearsed and polished." The opening and closing number is Steve Gallucio's musical theatre coming-out version of "Que sera sera," titled "To Be Queer, Be Queer," which he wrote for his play Peter and Paul Get Mary'd but never used. King also wrote a monologue which will be performed by Simard and Michelle Tracy. King is proud that there are more women than men performing, although he admits he's had trouble finding lesbian scripts for his company.