Berto_Tony_201307_PhD .pdf - University of Guelph

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allow a reading of a power dynamic or a coercion to be operating in their sexual interaction.
Their trading back and forth of the appearance of power in their sex acts denies recruitment
and infection constructions of gay youth sexuality (at least from a recruitment model)
where one has a position of power and inducts another into homosexuality.
Harvey is also sexually active with adults, clearly choosing to enter these
relationships of his own volition. He works for a tourist bus company where he narrates the
sites of the city to visitors. Through his narrations he trolls for available sexual partners by
dropping in gay codings: "It’s all about speaking in coded language, where only another
gay guy could pick up on it" (Grignard, Orchard 15). Harvey then aggressively pursues
potential partners who respond to him. He tracks down a man he meets during a tour,
continually phoning him during rehearsal. Harvey not only relishes telling the others about
his potential conquest, but wants them to eavesdrop. He is told there is a secluded phone he
may use, to which he responds "I don't need any privacy" (23). He then calls the number
five times over the course of the play until he finally makes contact (35; 48; 50; 56; 58).
Harvey also openly discusses sex throughout the play, revealing intimate details about his
experience and conjecturing about others' involvements. When he senses Boucherie's
attraction to Gordon he comments about the pain Boucherie will endure when Gordon
anally penetrates him, comparing it to the pain Boucherie will feel when Gordon leaves the
city for good (45). He then begins to describe Gordon's genitalia in detail and offers advice
as to how to be seduced and reach orgasm with Gordon (46). He finally ends this section by
relating his own experiences of having anal sex and making coprophilic comments about
them (47).