A Southern Fairytale

A Southern Fairytale is a beautifully conceived show written and starring Ty Autry in a one-hour revelatory monologue chronicled in six chapters, set-in modern-day Georgia, USA. Ty Autry plays Alex Belmont, who grew up in the Deep South, a challenging time for him, living in a small town with a church on every corner and Confederacy flags flying high, were denial and anti-gay sentiments were rife.

As a thirty-year-old gay Christian man, he recalls his time as young boy and his love of fairy tales, the dreamy stories, the “Prince Charmings” and the magical moments. He felt he was gay from a young age but his love for God and Christian beliefs taught him otherwise. His parents were devout god-fearing people, and his gay tendencies sent him straight to Conversion Therapy Camp.

Trailer: A Southern Fairytale from Ty Autry on Vimeo.

Autry has cleverly used narrative devices that enhance a colourful story, set amongst the cotton fields, in the pecan groves and living in a neighbourhood connected by a small gravel road, yet despite the idyllic setting there is a harrowing and chilling world of fear and dread.

Autry is crisp and clear about being a loud and proud Christian gay man. He is often animated and provides a versatile voice range of characters. He is comical, witty, ironic, with smatterings of pathos.

In a place in the deep South where faggot is synonymous with being stupid and dumb, to his first “straightening” and finally to his “gaying”, as Christian gay man he feels he has achieved an “amazing relationship” with God.

His is a captivating story and has rightly won many accolades across America  and is currently touring around Australia.  

Flora Georgiou