Stories of Queer Sex, Expression, and Self-Discovery From David John Phillips

“Sex is magical”, writer and performer David John Phillips exclaims near the tail end of his one-man spectacle, Oh! I Miss the War. A combination of one of eight monologues in the collection Queers by Matthew Baldwin and Phillips’ own work, this play is a compelling two-sided conversation. The story follows two characters: Jack, a posh London tailor who reflects on his younger self’s shenanigans after the Sexual Offences Act of 1967 is passed, and Matt, an S&M bottom in Toronto looking for pleasure in a rapidly-changing modern queer community. The show also heavily incorporates Polari, a form of British slang derived from mostly Italianate words that the queer community used as a safe code in the 19th-20th centuries.

The way in which the script is written evokes live poetry; it is bright and colourful with its vocabulary, only made more enchanting with Phillips’ performance. With his booming voice, natural charisma, and expressive mannerisms, Phillips’ was not only a captivating lead actor but made the distinction between each character clear. There’s a great overall balance in the show between the chilling, emotional moments and the more humorous bits. The simple set works in the show’s favour, bringing focus to Phillips. And the lighting supported this even further, with very intentional choices being made to not only distinguish between Jack and Matt, but add emotional weight. One detail that stuck out was the inability to see Phillips’ full face clearly due to the lighting for most of the show, which added a layer of depth to the characters.

In conclusion, Oh! I Miss the War is vulnerable and eye-opening, while still making room for a few laughs and Phillips’ endearing stage presence. While this show may appeal best to an older audience, the story itself is still fresh and modern.