Can we be inspirational and honest at the same time? This is the question that plagues Jonathan Wilson in his one-man show A Public Display of Affection. Wilson has been approached by a group of young LGBT activists to tell his story as a “queer elder”, to offer inspiration to the younger generation.
The problem is that Wilson’s life cannot be easily turned into an inspirational story. He reflects on the expectation and hope projected onto the “queer elder”, quipping he could probably convince the activists that he threw the first brick at Stonewall. Instead, he tells the truth.
What follows is a fascinating non-linear exploration of Wilson’s life, leaving home as a teenager, trying to make it in Toronto as an actor and discovering the gay subculture of the time. And in the present day, marrying his husband and reflecting on the simple act of holding hands in public. The show brings forth aspects of queer history which might be lesser-known, and reflects on the changes to the community over the last 50 years. This includes the improvements in the lives of most LGBTQ people, but also the sanitisation and gentrification of the rundown neighbourhoods that Wilson once frequented. And of course, there is deep grief, sadness and shame reflecting on friends lost.
Wilson himself is delightful company for the hour. He eases the audience in with funny quips and asides, but delivers the later gut-punches with appropriate emotional resonance. The production of A Public Display of Affection does a lot with minimal tech, just a few music and lighting cues and one PowerPoint demonstration.
One mild criticism. It is unclear during the performance what is fact and what is fiction. Wilson is introduced by the tech as being part of a Queer Elder story sharing series. But the production description seems to say that this is not literal. It’s therefore unclear, for example, when Wilson is told by the young queer activists that they don’t want to hear him talk about HIV, whether this actually happened, or is made up for the play, or is fictionalised but based on experience.
Overall though, A Public Display of Affection is a really gorgeous and affecting piece of theatre, and beautifully acted by Wilson. Definitely worth seeing.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
