The Motherf*cker with the Hat

Former altar boy Troy Harrison is a 33-year-old man who’s on a quest for blood and glory. Well, not literally. Though he is a tenacious actor on a noble mission to bring the stories of a Puerto Rican New Yorker to life on the Sydney stage.

Harrison is both an actor and on the production team of upcomingplay The Motherf*cker With the Hat. The show delves into the mind of former addict Jackie (Harrison) and his drink-loving high school sweetheart Veronica (Zoe Trilsbach) as they navigate their rekindled relationship under the guidance of sponsor Ralph D (John Atkinson).

Harrison himself describes it a little more poetically: “In a nutshell, the play’s about real people. It’s about fidelity. It’s about trust. It’s about relationships. It’s about moving your life forward and figuring out the things that are holding you back … in a very funny, abusive way”. And, we imagine it’s also about a hat that seems to fuck everything up.

The play is fresh from a six-time Tony-nominated stint in the Big Apple and is now being revived by newly created company Workhorse Theatre Co.. Harrison points out that although this performance might not have Chris Rock or Bobby Cannavale as the leading actors, it still pulls its weight.

“Obviously when you’vegot something on Broadway and something from an independent production house in Sydney, Australia, there are going to be differences. Most of it’s going to come from budget. There’s a lot of things that they were able to do that we just can’t,” Harrison tells Vertigo.

“We’ve done what we can to create a believable world for the audience, but there’s no real difference [compared to the original production]. The people on Broadway did the same thing as what we’re doing – just trying to find the truth in the characters and go on from there.”

Ellen to star in Nemo sequel

Australia’s favourite out American talkshow star has confirmed that she’ll be returning to her role as a forgetful and loveable fish for the sequel to Finding Nemo.

Ellen DeGeneres will lend her voice for the sequel – to be titled Finding Dory – slated to hit the big screen in 2015 as the colourful Regal Tang that brought us laughs from the original 2003 film all about the mysterious lives of underwater creatures off Australia’s world-renowned eastern coastline.

Uruguay set for marriage equality

The Uruguayan Senate yesterday passed legislation 23-8 that will mean the South American country is set to become the 15th in the world to legally endorse marriage equality.

The nation’s current law provides same-sex couples with the opportunity to attain a civil union, but the Senate has gone one step further after the bill was approved by the lower house in December last year. President José Mujica says he intends to sign the bill into law.

According to the Associated Press, the new legislation would also mean that any couple, regardless of sexual orientation, will be able to decide whose surname is used first when naming their children.

Uruguay will follow its neighbour Argentina to become the second country in Latin America that legally allows marriage equality nationwide (it’s only recognised in some regions of Brazil and Mexico).

Other countries that allow wedded unions between gay and lesbian couples include The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Denmark, and parts of the USA.

We still can’t help but think back to early 1995 and reminisce on a hilarious The Simpsons episode set in Australia where Homer pronounces the small South American country as “you are gay.” It seems the dim-witted Homer may have been onto something all along…

This article was originally published on 03/04/2013 on SameSame.com.au

Holidays + #Instagram

Following a recent trip to Australia’s other top dog city in Victoria, I can safely say that I’ll never take my iPhone or Instagram account for granted again.

People laugh and poke fun at those who even have an account that’s not Facebook – that too was once laughed at and mocked – simply because they deem it uncool or, as some people tend to put it these days, is “for mere hipsters and not us mortal folk.” Yes, I’m almost certain I didn’t just make that up in my head.

There’s a particular joy that comes with having the ability to achieve photographer genius in under 27 seconds with the use of another glorious Apple product. And then receiving a bulk of ‘likes’ from people who appreciate/admire your creative efforts is just the cherry on top.

Melbourne was a highly Instagrammable city (that too is something I don’t think I just made up), where delights and a European-style sense of street life paved the way for my photographic prowess as I captured all of the most glorious moments for the entire Instagramming public to see.

Out in Australia’s armed forces

While the United States only recently ended its Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy on gays in the military, Australia has allowed gay men and lesbians to serve openly since 1992.

Over the years, the Australian Armed Forces are becoming more and more socially accepting of those who are part of the queer community, active service people tell us. A tough battle for acknowledgment and equal treatment has finally resulted in a happier and healthier working environment.

Three service people of the armed forces who are members of DEFGLIS, the Australian Defence Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex information service, were kind enough to open up to Same Same about their time serving the sunburnt country thus far.

Born in Brisbane, Flight Lieutenant Nathan White (pictured above) has been in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for just under a decade and hasn’t yet reached his highest potential. He tells us he has big plans for the coming years on the job.

White has wanted to fly since childhood, he explains. “I have since I flew the first time when I was seven years old and then I found out about Defence at about age 13 or 14, so I knuckled down, studied hard and got in.

“I did three years at university and then two years of flight training to get my wings. From there, operational conversion is six months. So, total that up and 5 ½ years later and you’re a qualified pilot,” he explains.

“I would like to be a flight commander. I think that would be really rewarding. I guess that’s my goal for the next five years with the next promotion.”

Why pulling a Monty Burns isn’t so bad…

With the horrible exception of the recent flooding dilemma* that’s sweeping across our sunburnt nation quicker than the chicken pox in a kindergarten classroom, the ‘bad’, rainy weather in Australia isn’t all that disastrous.

This here is however a direct reference to one Mr Monty Burns, a kind hearted character from everybody’s favourite primetime animated comedy series, Le Simpsons. What kind of man would show the slightest sense of evil if he still enjoyed the accompaniment of his teddy bear Bobo?

There was an episode a good few seasons back that put a spark in everyone’s eye brighter than lightning in a thunderstorm. Remember when Maggie got all ghetto and shot Monty after he abused his power? I’m talking about that occasion.

Blocking out the sun was a fabulous idea. I’m sure people all over the world in Arab nations and desert states were in full agreement that there are times in our summer periods when all we want to do is push a shiny red knob and have instant, controllable shade. There are miniature, more private alternatives in Australia which are known as pergolas and awnings, though they couldn’t possibly do the trick if we want to lay on the beach or bicycle through the breeze at Bronte without risking higher rates of sunburn, or worse, skin cancer.

What if the royal baby turned out gay?

Just as marriage equality and gender equality have been pushed in recent times in Britain, parliamentarians are considering updating a law that would affect the royal family’s line of succession.

The parliament is debating a bill that will introduce legislation to allow the first-born child of Prince William and Kate Middleton to rule as monarch regardless of their gender. Labour MP Paul Flynn is now pushing for an extension to this new law to provide the same opportunity for a child if they become a gay or lesbian adult.

If Flynn’s own stance on the issue is taken seriously and becomes law, there may very well one day be an openly gay or lesbian ruler of the Commonwealth in a same-sex relationship with legal recognition as partners.

Pink News reports, “Any children born to the couple through artificial insemination or surrogacy would succeed to the throne so long as the couple are in a same-sex marriage or civil partnership.”

However, any children that may be adopted by the couple would not be illegible for succession based on current laws that MPs might not care to change.

First and foremost, the speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow would need to accept the amendment in order for a full debate to commence. As a strong supporter of LGBT rights, Pink News writes that it’s “almost certain” and “is expected to have the support of many Labour, Liberal Democrats and most Conservatives that back David Cameron’s plans to introduce same-sex marriage.”

In a similar move for a fairer ascension to the throne, the only remaining obstacle is altering the law so that royals could marry a Catholic, despite the religious and legal complexities of this issue. The royal monarch has been the Supreme Governor of the Church of England since the time of King Henry VIII, and the church are officially opposed to same-sex marriage.

Same Same wonders what Queen Lizzy II’s stance on all of this is…?

Originally published at SameSame on 24/01/2013