Blowing Whistles
The open relationship is by no means a new concept, but speaking openly about it is. Their
popularity has been aided by online shopping for trade. Sounds simple, right? Playwright Matthew
Todd begs to differ
Blowing Whistles returns to the Mardi
Gras Festival as a local production
after a successful reading at last year’s
festival. Described by Todd as a “plea
for honesty – with cock jokes”. The
play follows Nigel and Jamie, a couple
who have enjoyed an open relationship
until they meet ‘cumboy_17’ on
Mardi Gras eve. The next 24 hours
conspire to have a signifi cant impact
on all three lives.
“I wrote the play after I’d
been dumped and was angry
about the lies people tell in
relationships,” says Todd. “I
don’t think we treat each other
very well much of the time. I
think a lot of that comes from the
shit we often go through growing up
– and I think to get over it, we need
to face up to it.”
Like many playwrights, Todd
draws his characters from personal
encounters. “I think all three characters
are parts of me. I’ve been shy
and vulnerable, I’ve made irrational
decisions pursuing sex and I’ve been
someone who just wants to settle
down and be monogamous.”
Focus Theatre founders Pete Nettell
and Alice Livingstone adapted
the hit UK play to Sydney. “What
appealed to me was the honesty
of the writing, addressing what it
means to be a modern gay couple in
a long-term relationship, and the fun
and pitfalls of opening up a relationship
and using cyberspace to attract
others,” says director Pete Nettell.
Todd says his work is geared for
queers. “It’s a play for us. It’s great
that straight people relate to it too
– they sometimes come out after
having a revelation that gay relationships
go through the same ups and
downs as straight ones – it’s a play
that speaks to a gay audience. Why
shouldn’t we have plays that deal
specifi cally with our relationships,
issues and lives?”
Feb 6–March 2, Belvoir Street
Theatre, 8.15pm, $32 Full/$27
Cons, (Bookings 9699 3444,
www.belvoir.com.au)
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