Back to the farm

A rural coming-out story onstage in rural Millbrook, Ontario


“I was very nervous before the public reading. The material is quite risqué for a regional theatre, and I was worried that a more family-oriented audience would be a little freaked out by the subject matter,” says Nathaniel Bacon of his role as Luke in St Francis of Millbrook.

“Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.”

The play is a coming-of-age story about growing up in rural Ontario. Luke’s parents are concerned that he likes the pop star Madonna a little too much and, this being a Sky Gilbert play, with the mother played by Elley-Ray Hennessy, his eventual coming out is pretty much guaranteed.

“This story is intensely personal for me,” Bacon says. “I’m originally from a place called Burnt River, with a population of around 200 people. So it’s really mind-blowing to return to my old life in a sense.”

This is a big break for Bacon, who first came to our attention when he rocked Queer Idol with his vocal talent and his penchant for performing shirtless. “There is an eye-candy element, which involves some great choreography and the removal of some specific items of clothing . . . I’ve said too much,” Bacon teases. “Sky is an amazing artist and an extremely passionate, driven man. He’s been a pioneer for queer rights and a trailblazer in theatre for so many years that I was honestly terrified to meet him. But he’s a very kind, nurturing, funny guy, and he’s been incredibly encouraging and welcoming to me.”

Whatever the rural reaction, Bacon is sure gay audiences will have a great time.

“It’s a liberating, touching story with elements of powerful drama and fantastic comedy. Sky has created a world of very real characters and we have a great group of people bringing them to life. And there will be some very inventive use of a classic Madonna tune.”

The Deets:
St Francis of Millbrook runs till Sat, Sept 1
4th Line Theatre
The Winslow Farm, 779 Zion Line
Millbrook
4thlinetheatre.on.ca

Read More About:
Culture, Sports, Canada, Human Rights, Arts

Keep Reading

A still image of Anne, played by Amybeth McNulty, in braids and a coat, looking at another child in Anne with an E.

Why the adaptation ‘Anne with an E’ speaks to queers and misfits of all kinds

The modern interpretation of Anne of Green Gables reflected queer and gender-diverse people’s lives back at them 
Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Perez in Emilia Perez. Gascón wears black with colourful embroidery, has long hair, and a brown purse and delicate chain.

Trans cartel musical ‘Emilia Pérez’ takes maximalist aesthetic to the extreme

REVIEW: The film’s existence raises intriguing questions about appropriate subjects for the playful machinations of French auteurs
Dorothy Allison sits behind a microphone. She has long, light-coloured hair and wears glasses and a patterned button-up shirt.

5 things to know about Dorothy Allison

The lesbian feminist writer passed on Nov. 6

‘Solemates’ is a barefoot stroll through the history of our fetish for feet

Queer historian Adam Zmith’s newest book allows us to dip our toes into the past of a common, yet stigmatized, kink