A Public Display of Affection mixes history, comedy, and poignant reflection in equal measure, as it excavates the lives, loves, and landmarks of Jonathan Wilson’s life as a queer teenager in Toronto. Deftly inhabiting a cavalcade of characters, Wilson leads us on a wry and intimate exploration of the Village he once knew, the legacy it created, and the future being forged by a new generation.

In the show, Wilson (The Lion King, The Normal Heart, Gay for Pay with Blake & Clay), a Second City veteran and Dora Award-winning actor, has crafted a bracing companion piece to his Dora-nominated, playwriting debut, My Own Private Oshawa. 

“In A Public Display of Affection I’m taking the audience on a highlights tour of Toronto, circa 1979 when I first arrived here at age fifteen,” shares Wilson. “We’ll talk about what has changed, what has been lost, and what has endured. I’ll also unpack what it means to be a ‘queer elder’ – the humour of that, and the idea of being this supposedly wise person in the community when I’m still changing myself. I believe that all theatre is truly a public display of affection, a communal coming together, in a trusting and vulnerable space. I want this experience to be more than just a play – it’s a meeting place, and a celebration.”

Jonathan Wilson is the show’s playwright and performer, directed by Mark McGrinder (Four Minutes Twelve Seconds). Denyse Karn (Othello, To Kill a Mockingbird, Stratford Festival), is the set and projection designer, with lighting design by André du Toit (Prince Hamlet, Why Not Theatre; Romeo and Juliet, Stratford Festival), and sound design by Lyon Smith (The Waltz, Factory Theatre; Pipeline, Soulpepper). Aaheli Mukherjee is the production manager, and stage management is by Sandi Becker.

“This is such a pure piece of storytelling,” says McGrinder. “Jonathan is a gifted comedic storyteller, and the opportunity to share something so intimate and direct with an audience is really what theatre is all about. I love that the play functions as different things for different audiences. For some, its coming-of-age and coming out narrative is a startling history of a Toronto they know nothing about. For others, it’s a potent affirmation of their own lived experience. But whatever your perspective, you can’t help but be drawn in by Jonathan and the stories he tells.”

A Public Display of Affection runs from March 25 to April 20, 2025 in the Crow’s Theatre’s Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest (345 Carlaw Ave., Toronto). Opening night is Friday, March 28 at 8 p.m. Remaining tickets are available now at CrowsTheatre.com. Run time: approximately 80 minutes, no intermission. 

The Studio 180 Community Partner for A Public Display of Affection is the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), who will co-present two Beyond the Stage post-show events: March 30, with Rui Pires of ACT, and a youth panel on April 5. There will also be a lobby art exhibit on display during the run curated and co-presented by The ArQuives, called The View from Vaseline Tower – Memories of Toronto’s Queer Village.

Ticket and Box Office Information: 

Tickets for A Public Display of Affection start at $44 with pricing options throughout the run for students, arts workers, under-30, and premium reserved seating add-on, plus limited Pay-What-You-Can tickets available on Sunday matinees. Fees will apply. Crow’s Theatre Box Office: online:  www.crowstheatre.com. By phone: 647-341-7390 – Monday to Friday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. In person: In the lobby at 345 Carlaw Avenue – one hour and 30 minutes prior to each performance. By email: boxoffice@crowstheatre.com.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.