GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM Makes Canadian Premiere at Mainline Theatre

A remarkably moving, brilliantly funny love story, Gently Down The Stream reflects the triumphs and heartbreaks of the entire length of the gay rights movement, celebrating and mourning the ghosts of the men and women who led the way for equality, marriage, and the right to dream. Presented by Brave New Productions (celebrating 15 years) in special partnership with Fierté Montréal, Gently Down The Stream runs from August 2-11 (see various times below) at Mainline Theatre. Fresh off the heels of their acclaimed Fringe run of Buyer & Cellar, Gently Down The Stream is a unique combination of an unexpected love story coupled with an intense and personal exploration of gay rights through history.

Beau (Joe Dineen), a pianist expat living in London, meets Rufus (Sean Curley), an eccentric young lawyer, at the dawn of the internet dating revolution. After a life spent recovering from the disappointment and hurt of loving men in a world that refused to allow it, Beau is determined to keep his expectations low with Rufus. But Rufus comes from a new generation of gay men who believe happiness is as much their right as anyone else's, and what Beau assumed would be just another fling grows into one of the most surprising and defining relationships of his life.

Martin Sherman is the ground-breaking author of Bent, an exploration of the persecution homosexuals faced during the Holocaust. Bent was a Tony nominee for Best Play in 1980 and won the Dramatists Guild's Hull-Warriner Award. Gently Down The Stream takes the audience through an exploration of gay history, including the Upstairs Lounge Arson attack, which occurred 25 years ago this June, and was the largest killing of gay people in U.S. history until the Pulse nightclub massacre in 2016.

READ AN INTERVIEW WITH Martin Sherman

In the face of the current political climate in the United States, the play has become more relevant than ever, and brings up important themes of progress and human rights. "At its heart though, it's a love story," said Curley, who plays the much younger man in Gently Down The Stream, "an unusual, but touching and honest love story and unusual not only in terms of age. Beau and Rufus are two very different people and draw something important out of each other."

"It feels amazing to tell these stories, some of which I've actually lived through," added Dineen, who lived in New York during the AIDS crisis, "I think it's important to share these stories and pass them down to the next generation. We're not talking about a century ago, we're talking about recent history. Recent history that seems to get forgotten and needs to be remembered."

Working in partnership with Fierté Montréal has created an opportunity for theatre to become a part of Montreal's Pride celebration. "Usually you think of parties and parades, but this show is the perfect addition to the festivities. It's a fantastic love story and an important discussion of how far we've come and how far we've yet to go." says director Donald Rees, who has previously directed the Canadian premiere of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later. "We kind of usher in Pride by starting our run just a little before it starts and culminating it all with the three special performances that open the festival."

Tickets: $18.00 (available at bravenewproductions.com starting July 9th)

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