A series commissioned for the Gay Britannia season. Queers is a series of monologues directed by Mark Gatiss.
The Man on the Platform was also written by Gatiss. It stars Ben Whishaw as Perce, a medic in the First World War.
Returning home Perce catches a man glimpsing at him on the train platform. The liquidity of the eye is how you can tell another gay person.
The soldier recounts how as a child he saw a notorious prisoner in the same platform. He was Oscar Wilde, his parent's reaction made Perce realise that he had to keep his sexuality a secret.
In the trenches, Perce spent a wonderful afternoon with an officer. It was carefree and innocent but it caused enough disquiet for both of them to be sent elsewhere.
The monologue was well delivered by Whishaw. Like the mores of the time, it was all very subtly done. Maybe a bit too subtly.
The Man on the Platform was also written by Gatiss. It stars Ben Whishaw as Perce, a medic in the First World War.
Returning home Perce catches a man glimpsing at him on the train platform. The liquidity of the eye is how you can tell another gay person.
The soldier recounts how as a child he saw a notorious prisoner in the same platform. He was Oscar Wilde, his parent's reaction made Perce realise that he had to keep his sexuality a secret.
In the trenches, Perce spent a wonderful afternoon with an officer. It was carefree and innocent but it caused enough disquiet for both of them to be sent elsewhere.
The monologue was well delivered by Whishaw. Like the mores of the time, it was all very subtly done. Maybe a bit too subtly.
