Christian Couture is a fan of camp. The 34-year-old playwright remembers watching the campy 1939 film The Women with friends and laughing at the overly-dramatic roles portrayed by the likes of Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell.
So when Couture decided it was time to begin his own “vanity project,” he knew he had the inspiration to create something specific for the gay community. Five years ago he wrote The Men.
“The intent of the play is for fun, laughs—and dick,” says Couture, who warns that there is some nudity in the comedy. “I wanted to write a play that didn’t focus on a character with HIV/AIDS and didn’t include self-loathing. I wanted a play that was a comedy about community.”
Now, the play is running at Studio at 620 in downtown St. Petersburg through Jan. 9.
While the subtext of the original The Women is dated—it’s based in the 1930s and focuses on stereotypical gender roles of the time—Couture saw that many of the themes could be incorporated into the gay lifestyles of modern gay men.
“They tried to remake The Women [in 2008] and it didn’t work because women are no longer in those matriarchal roles,” Couture says. “But men in the gay community sometimes take on specific roles. For example, in my relationship I’m the domestic. I enjoy cooking and cleaning and taking care of the house. What’s different is that gay men choose the roles that make us happy. We’re not forced into any roles by society.”
The Men is the first all-gay themed production by Studio at 620 and is directed by founder Bob Devin Jones. Jones worked with nine actors from very diverse backgrounds.
“Some are veterans and some are making their acting debut,” Jones says. “I don’t look at The Men as a ‘gay play.’ That would be like looking at other productions as ‘hetero plays.’ I don’t think that’s how our audience sees things.”
Couture and the cast agree.
“At the core this is a story about a group of friends and their lives and respect for each other,” says Stephen Riordan, who plays “Marty.” “I grew up [in St. Petersburg] and I think our community will be proud of The Men. I think the gay community will realize that ‘This is our show.’”
Jorge Acosta, who plays the very straight “Jose” and the very flamboyant “Roberto” in the production, agrees.
“We have gay men and straight men in the cast,” Alvarez says. “We have white guys and Latino guys…it’s a cast and a play that relates to all of our lives, no matter which segment of the community you are labeled with.”
While the arcing theme of the play does encompass gay men, it’s important to remember that there are straight characters in the production as well, Couture says.
“It’s called The Men, not The Gay Men,” he laughs.
Riordan adds that the play is different than other gay-themed productions in that it doesn’t focus on “what’s hot.”
“It’s refreshing because so many plays about the gay community focus on what circle you’re in,” Riordan says. “People are people. Too much emphasis is put on what social group we’re assigned to and that can be scary, especially if you’re new to the gay community.”
But, there are a few “hot” moments in The Men. It does contain adult content—specifically full frontal nudity. It also discusses issues that may make some more conservative-minded audiences uncomfortable.
“The characters talk about sexual positions and this is the only play I know of that discusses rimming,” Couture says. “I’m shocked by parts of it and I wrote the thing.”
Couture first brought The Men to St. Petersburg in 2009 where The Studio at 620 workshopped it. For Acosta, the comedy inside the script and the surprising depth of the characters is what drew him to his roles.
“Everyone has choices in life,” Acosta says. “You can choose to be in a committed relationship—you can choose monogamy. Or, you can choose to step out or choose to stay single. This play touches on all of that.”
And for Couture, men also have a choice as to how they present themselves. The self-described “sissy queen” hopes today’s LGBT youth realize they can be who they are and still be happy as adults—very timely hopes, considering this year’s rampant increase in teen suicides.
“I’m a sissy and proud of it,” Couture says. “For so long I didn’t know I had an option to fall in love with a man, live my life with him and be happy and ‘normal,’” he says. “You have to get past all the shit and realize that life is good. The Men celebrates how supportive the gay community and a strong circle of friends can be.”
The Men opened to positive reviews by members of Studio at 620 and the actors will perform during a special New Year’s Eve Gala at the downtown theater. Tickets are $75 and include dinner, a champagne toast and the show.
That’s something Jones thinks members and theater fans will enjoy.
“We’ve had quite a few reservations from a very diverse group of people,” Jones says. “We have white, black, straight and gay people excited to attend the special gala and to see this incredible production. It’s been a pleasure directing the various energies on the stage and I think it will be well-accepted.”
Acosta is thankful that the studio is staging such a gay-friendly production and that several straight actors are on board. To him, it says a lot about the Tampa Bay community.
“It’s important for us as gays to support the institutions that support us,” Acosta says. “Bob and the Studio have made the bold decision to put gay characters on the stage and we should respect that as a community.”
see+hear
WHAT: The Men
WHERE: The Studio at 620, St. Petersburg
WHEN: Through Jan. 9
TICKETS: Studio620.org
