It’s hardly surprising Black Faggot is selling out left right and centre. It’s really, really, really good. Penned by Victor Rodger, the play is a series of comedy monologues exploring the gay Samoan male experience right here in Auckland. My esteemed editor has been raving about it ever since he saw it at the 2013 Auckland Pride Festival (read his glowing review here), so I was full of optimism when I went along to see its return run at the Herald Theatre. I was not disappointed. In fact, my jaw may still be sore from laughing in wide-mouthed hysteria. Oh it is hilarious. The two actors, Iaheto Ah Hi and Beulah Koale skilfully become what seems like a room-full of characters. They have nothing – no props, no costumes, just their marvellous acting and a hell of a script – and yet they create entire families. From a Samoan mum, to a just out son, a gay fusspot, a charming shyster and a near-ridiculous artist, these characters are utterly uproarious. And their stories are so real you don’t even see the actors for the people they evoke. The most beautiful thing about Black Faggot though is that while it’s very funny, there are also plenty of poignant moments which are gently subtle, not over-dramatized, and all the more memorable for it. While this palagi can only be pretty convinced the characters were realistic, my date, a Samoan friend, says the play brought back a whole bundle of lifetime memories. Black Faggot is delightfully risqué, and while a couple of the gay male sex gags had me, well, gagging, that’s just because I am a lesbian! Semen is not something I want to know about until I decide to buy some to make babies! The show has now enjoyed three weeks of sold-out houses and rave reviews in Brisbane, Wellington and Auckland and had added an extra Auckland show on Saturday, which will most likely sell out too. It’s not hard to see why - or why it’s garnered acclaim on both side of the Tasman – Black Faggot is side-splitting, touching and brilliantly acted. Hurry up and get tickets! You can buy tickets here Jacqui Stanford - 7th March 2014