Billy Porter and Sam Morrison Team Up for a Comedy About Love and Death
In a unique collaboration, Emmy-winning singer and actor Billy Porter has joined forces with standup comedian Sam Morrison to bring the autobiographical one-man show Sugar Daddy to London's West End. The show, which delves into themes of love, grief, and insulin, has captivated audiences worldwide and now receives a fresh update for its upcoming run.
From Tragedy to Comedy: The Story Behind Sugar Daddy
Sugar Daddy is a poignant monologue by 31-year-old Sam Morrison, recounting his relationship with Jonathan, a man 24 years his senior, whom he met at a gay bear festival in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Their love story took a tragic turn when Jonathan died from Covid in 2021, just two and a half years into their partnership. Morrison has been performing the show globally for four years, using comedy as a tool to process his loss.
Billy Porter, 56, known for roles in Pose and Cabaret, was so moved by Morrison's performance that he signed on as a co-producer. In a recent video call, the duo discussed the healing power of laughter and the challenges of bridging generational gaps within the gay community. Porter, speaking from chilly New York, joked about the weather, while Morrison beamed in from sunny Los Angeles.
Exploring Identity and Community in Gay Culture
The show touches on specific categories within the gay male community, such as bears, twinks, and otters. Morrison humorously connects his attraction to bears with his type 1 diabetes, crafting jokes that challenge societal norms. He explained that turning his grief into comedy was a natural process, as he always processes life through humor.
Porter emphasized the importance of processing trauma through art, noting that many comedians grapple with depression. He praised Sugar Daddy for its truthfulness, stating that in an era of silence and misinformation, artists have a duty to be honest. Porter's involvement as a producer stems from his role as a queer leader in the industry, aiming to lend credibility and quality to the project.
Confronting Shame and Fatphobia
Morrison opened up about the shame he once felt regarding his attraction to older, larger men, highlighting the fatphobia prevalent in society. He uses standup as a platform to confront these issues head-on, often facing negative feedback from audiences. Despite this, he finds empowerment in expressing his truth, even when met with hostility.
Porter related to Morrison's experiences, sharing his own rage at societal injustices and his decision to venture into comedy as an outlet. The pair discussed how moving the show from comedy clubs to theatres has led to more respectful audiences, though Morrison recalled intense moments in New York clubs where his safety felt threatened.
Diabetes and Grief: A Dual Struggle
The show intertwines Morrison's grief with his diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, which doctors linked to his emotional trauma. Porter shared a similar experience, where a health crisis triggered his type 2 diabetes. Morrison described diabetes as a disease managed with candy, drawing a whimsical comparison to Willy Wonka, while emphasizing the lack of control it shares with grief.
Both artists reflected on the parallels between the Covid pandemic and the Aids crisis, with Porter noting the triggering similarities in government responses and societal blame. Morrison's setting in Provincetown, a location with deep ties to Aids history, adds layers to the narrative, connecting past and present struggles.
Keeping Memories Alive Through Art
For Morrison, performing Sugar Daddy has kept Jonathan's memory alive, turning what he calls a "friendly haunting" into a shared experience with audiences. He values this connection, finding solace in sharing his partner's story with others.
The updated version of Sugar Daddy will run at Underbelly Boulevard Soho in London from March 5 to April 4, offering a blend of humor and heartache that resonates across generations.
