“Colin Craig may have been right. The gay onslaught has arrived,” is the way the producers of the Wellington leg of the ‘perhaps the gayest musical ever’ introduce the work that is currently onstage at Gryphon Theatre. Speakeasy Theatre Ltd has joined forces with Backyard Theatre to host the New Zealand premiere of the hit Off-Broadway musical Zanna, Don’t! Written by Tim Atico, Zanna, Don’t! opened in New York in 2002, and was a hit thanks to its bubble-gum pop score and witty script. Described as a ‘musical fairytale’ it centres around Zanna, a love fairy, whose job is to find people with ‘extra love’ and pair them with their perfect match. Guys with the guys and girls with the girls. Then two rebel opposite-sex Heartsville High students create a storm of heterophobia by falling in love. It’s up to Zanna to ‘make the world safe for heterosexuals’, but what cost will he pay to create a safe world in which his friends can love in peace? Zanna, Don’t! turns traditional ideas of love on its head in a world where everyone is gay, and heterosexuals are the outcasts. Director Stuart James says its themes of acceptance vs. tolerance are particularly relevant in New Zealand right now. “During the marriage equality campaign, New Zealanders had to think, did they tolerate or accept their gay community? Were they for or against equality for all?” James, 27, says that while growing up gay in New Zealand is easier for young people today, there are still challenges. “Growing up, I had to look outside of my immediate family, school or friends to come to terms with who I am. Hopefully now the Marriage Equality Bill has passed, we will see a more open and honest communication of what it means to be gay.” He says the show explores themes of love and equality – and far from being “anti-straight” promotes the idea that everyone deserves an equal chance at love. Zanna, Don’t! runs until 4 May, tickets available here GayNZ.com staff - 2nd May 2013