My Own Private Oshawa

My Own Private Oshawa is a theatrical play written and performed by Jonathan Wilson, which premiered in 1996.[1] A one-man show taking place aboard a GO Train in which Wilson is travelling home from Toronto to Oshawa for a visit, the show is performed as a monologue about his childhood experiences as a repressed and closeted gay kid, and the impact of his more flamboyantly gay friend Gordon on his sense of self.[2] The ultimate purpose of the trip, to attend Gordon's funeral following his death of AIDS, is revealed only at the end of the play.[3]

The play was staged for the first time in July 1996 at the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it was one of the major hits of the festival;[1] due to its popularity, it was later remounted by Tarragon Theatre in the fall.[4] The Tarragon production received two Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations (Small Theatre division) in 1997, for Outstanding New Play or Musical and Outstanding Performance by a Male (Wilson).[5]

  1. ^ a b Vit Wagner, "Growing up gay in Oshawa". Toronto Star, July 10, 1996.
  2. ^ Kate Taylor, "A funny thing on the GO train". The Globe and Mail, October 4, 1996.
  3. ^ Gary Smith, "Play explores realities of growing up gay". Hamilton Spectator, October 12, 1996.
  4. ^ Andrew Clark, "Take My Oshawa, please: Second City vet goes for the suburban jugular". Toronto Star, October 3, 1996.
  5. ^ "Major Dora Mavor Moore nominations". Toronto Star, September 12, 1997.