Angry Fags
Topher Payne’s Angry Fags is a revenge story and a cautionary tale of good gay guys gone bad. Payne’s play is a comedic play portraying support towards LGBTQI rights, exploring themes of friendships, revenge and political satire.
The play is about politics, love and toxic friendships. Payne’s characters uses violence to go against violence, however, it eventually leads to terrible and unforeseen consequences.
The story revolves around the friendship between two gay guys Bennett and Cooper. After a mutual friend, Bennett’s ex-boyfriend gets bashed, outside the carpark of a gay bar. Bennett’s boss, Allison Haines, a state senator up for re-election against the conservative party’s Peggy Musgrove, a female Republican Evangelical opponent. Haines refused to label it as ‘hate crime’ – as hate crimes against homosexuals don’t exist under Georgia law. Bennet and Cooper became frustrated that they are not respected enough to have equal justice and rights. Initially acting with good intentions the two men turn to fear tactics to achieve what politics and good intentions can’t.
Through dark comedy, playwright Topher Payne updated his play to include the legalisation of gay marriage in order to reflect on the current state of the American politics and create a timeless play for our time.
Feb 4-Mar 7. New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown. $20-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.newtheatre.org.au
By Kirsta Cheung.
