<p><strong>Michael Billgton: </strong>The gay and lbian theatre movement has changed radilly sce the opprsive days of the 1950s, but uld more wrers rise to the challenge of ntemporary issu?</p>
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GAY TIMES 87, NOVEMBER 1985
Broadway is awash wh gay theatre - and dienc love . When will UK playwrights realise there's a huge market for gay farce, asks Michael Billgton. * michael billington gay *
Michael Billgton: The gay and lbian theatre movement has changed radilly sce the opprsive days of the 1950s, but uld more wrers rise to the challenge of ntemporary issu?
Whatever s flts, New York theatre has virtually patented a new form: the gay edy of manners. Its origs lie Mart Crowley's 1968 play The Boys the Band, alg wh a surprise hetero visor to a gay birthday bash. Crowley's work lnched a seri of plays that bed a gay agenda wh mass dience appeal.
When will our own wrers wake up to the fact that there is now a big market for gay boulevard edy? Behd the genly stctured jok, Beane is makg a ser pot: that Ameri, at heart, remas a nservative culture and that even when Hollywood tackl gay relatnships, as Brokeback Mounta, tak re to publicise the fact that the stars themselv are straight as a die. Matters are plited when she, tryg to transfer a New York gay play to the big screen, needs to advertise his straight crentials if he is to play the lead.