By Stephanie McKenzie
Corner Brook was energized Oct. 26 night by the debut of Josh Connors’ first full-length play, “Small Town Queer.” The standing ovation was genuine.
The play revolves around LGBTQIA+ characters, and the small town is Corner Brook. The Pentecostal churches preaching homophobia are not necessarily strictly local but symbolic of general homophobic indoctrination.
The gay male character (Daniel Tucker) explains to his mother that he didn’t tell her he was gay because she’s “Pent” (he’s been kicked out of the church’s rock band because he’s gay and, so, keeps his mouth shut).
“Small Town Queer” isn’t preachy, though. It avoids sermons, as well as dichotomies, though has fun with stereotypes and, ultimately, rejects them.
The set was simple: a living room with retro furniture from the 1980s-’90s. Seven characters exchange stories. Given Swirsky’s intimate theatre, everyone seemed to be part of the conversation. The effects were simple, too — lighting shifted with moods, red lights angry with homophobic hate.
All characters were unnamed, reflecting different identities, though inevitably underscoring the importance of accepting people without labels.
An athlete lesbian (Erica Green) recalls getting caught kissing her girlfriend by her team. A bisexual woman (Meaghan Collins) challenges biphobia within the queer community itself, emphasizing the importance of accepting a grey scale of sexuality. A trans character (Connor Coombs) focuses on the fear he feels entering washrooms and being sexual fetish. He provocatively asks, “where will I feel safest?”
A woman (Heather Huybregts) once jumped on her high-school desk cursing her gay male friend’s bullies. A second bisexual character (Emma Anderson), the play’s most sombre contingent, speaks of her father sobbing upon realizing he hadn’t created a safe space for her to tell him about her sexuality. “Tucker’s” mother (Angele Yetman) is a foil to homophobia in the Pentecostal Church and, for her son, is the “model Christian.” The church has taught that homosexuality is the worst sin, as her son puts it, yet she claims her Bible tells her God doesn’t make mistakes.
There are various messages in this play, but the most remarkable thing is the play’s turning of the other cheek.
“Sometimes people change,” Tucker says, remembering a former high-school bully who unexpectedly apologizes to him. The man is now a father and loves his children unconditionally. But the play doesn’t give in to hate.
Tucker points at congregations and pastors who “try to use God as a shield for their own internalized hate.” Forced to confront her church’s beliefs, his mother proclaims there is no separation between God and the LGBTQIA+ community. Coombs notes that body dysphoria is no longer recognized as a mental illness. Anderson calls the rejection of queer children by parents “abusive” and says they don’t deserve kids.
“Live your truth, love without fear,” she says.
This play is no castigation of Corner Brook, though. It praises the town for what it has become. Green’s character has moved back from Toronto to find a different place from that of 20 years ago when Pride parades and comfortable same-sex relationships were no option. She’s happy living here with her wife.
“Let’s not forget pioneers and trailblazers,” Collins says, speaking of her mother, her hero. The play suggests that those who created paths for future generations deserve recognition.
Why is it that an LGBTQIA+ play is sold out in Corner Brook? How has the city come this far?
While issues raised by “Small Town Queer” appeared long ago on other stages, it announces a new kind of Corner Brook, revealing what the Pride parade also showed this year with over 300 people marching: Corner Brook is greeting the times.
The entire cast should be commended, though the physical movements of Green were best. Tucker stole the show, though. He has presence and the audience loved him.
Connor is a pioneer, too, and deserves credit for having wits to know his play would draw a crowd.
The audience boasted different ages and backgrounds. However, the majority were young, congregating to recognize that the greatest gift of all is love.
Stephanie McKenzie is an associate professor in the English program at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus. She writes from Corner Brook.
