Fab Magazine Interview: Upcoming Play Man2Man At The Harbourfront Centre On Feb.12th 2011 At 8pm.

the conversation – issue 417 The people, places and things we’re talking about

BLACK GAY MEN IN LOVE “Man 2 Man now starts with a full-on church service. We go into their world and then — a gay seduction,” says Kwame Stephens of the evolution of his hit play. The rewrites were painful but necessary. “It’s a more mature play, a grown-up play. I’m hustling my way to the mainstream. God bless Buddies,” he says, referring to the first production in June 2010. “I’ve never quite come down. We sold out the second night and that opened the door.” Man 2 Man is being remounted at Harbourfront as part of Kuumba, which is billed as an all-ages festival celebrating Black History Month. “I haven’t seen a gay thing at Black History Month before,” says Stephens. “And they came after me. They insisted; they’re being inclusive. And when you do Harbourfront, it’s mainstream — plush seats.” Stephens has no illusions that this is “the mainstream black community embracing homosexuality.” The promotional material is coded in a way familiar to those who remember the days when gay-themed art had to be searched out: “This play examines the rocky relationship between two men coming to terms with who they are.” And it is placed next to a photo of a carnival reveller, female, flaunting an impressive set of breasts. Stephens is quick to point out that the website is more explicit and does display the official photograph. “At Buddies everyone was comfortable with the play, but in the mainstream?” asks Stephens. The first production received only support and praise, but this time around, Stephens says, “I’m getting negative stuff. One guy told me, ‘My sister is a lesbian and it’s an abomination.’” Undaunted, Stephens is forging ahead and is looking forward to the Q&A after the performance. “We want to have that discussion — we need to have that discussion — what it means to be black and gay.” The character of the bisexual, on-the-downlow pastor has been expanded in the revised script. This is partly because Stephens expects a mainstream audience to contain more men living that lifestyle. “The whole downlow thing and the pastor’s struggle, it’s disturbing,” he says. “I wish the downlow wasn’t there, but as a black man who loves black men I understand. You have to struggle with it. The pressure of culture and religion, it won’t change any time soon. But at least it’s named. And now that it’s named we can discuss and deal with it. Share a story and let’s talk about it.” The downlow may be a theme in Man 2 Man, but the heart of the play is a love story. “Two days before Valentine’s Day, how much more romantic can you get?” asks Stephens. “At Buddies even the straight men were cozying up. It’s the atmosphere, the affection between the two leads in the scene where they get dressed in the morning.” Man 2 Man climaxes with a wedding, and Stephens himself is a bit of a traditionalist — as well as a persistent gay activist. “Love is paramount,” he explains. “If I were to get married to someone — that is my romantic fantasy — I’d have to find someone to grapple with till we decide to make it work. I want to have that kind of love that is real. And the climax of love is when you can commit publicly.” Stephens’ romantic streak surfaces again in his fundraising project for Man 2 Man: a book of poetry, Banyin Na Banyin, that includes “Damien’s Wedding Vows,” taken directly from the script. “That’s all that matters, that we love each other,” writes Stephens. “It’s a love story with lots of characters but also a labour of love,” says Stephens. “I hustled my way in there. I’m curious about the crowd we’re going to get. Hopefully they’ll come; it’s our story.” But even a dedicated activist can gloat at success: “The Brigantine Room. Red seats — damn!” Man 2 Man is on Sat, Feb 12 at the Studio Theatre, York Quay Centre, 235 Queen’s Quay W. Info: harbourfrontcentre.com Banyin Na Banyin is available at Glad Day Bookshop, 598A Yonge St, and at the performance of Man 2 Man. Drew Rowsome is an associate editor at fab and somewhat less of a romantic.