REVIEW: The Heterosexuals

Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)

Genre: Theatre—Comedy, Storytelling/Solo Show

Run Time: 60 mins

Venue: Mills Hardware

Heterosexuals. They walk amongst us. They are, as Johnnie McNamara Walker, states “the greatest threat to good taste…and yet, we never talk about it.” Until now.

In this fiercely queer and quick-witted solo show, McNamara Walker delivers a high octane performance that leaves you wondering if he wrote in any moments to catch his breath. A direct and unapologetic conversation with the audience (one-sided, of course), McNamara Walker chronicles his journey from musical theatre loving childhood to closeted early adulthood (going “undercover” as he calls it) to full acceptance of his sexuality. McNamara Walker is unstoppable as he dances, lip syncs, dons plaid (gay gasp) and leaves the audience with a checklist of queer community demands before sashaying away.

Using biting humour to explore complex themes of identity, societal expectations, the queer experience, and the absurdity of “straightness,” any 2SLGBTQI+ person will be able to relate to McNamara Walker’s anecdotes of a young person needing to survive in an increasingly gendered and homophobic world. Sure, it’s comedic in nature but there’s resonating truth behind every facet of this show.

The Heterosexuals has great energy and a top notch performer at the helm but the heart beneath the humour really sells this one. Definitely worth seeing.