Peter Allen was gay. You know that, right? The Boy From Oz was such a powerful gay man in the entertainment industry, he not only owned The Wizard Of Oz, he married Dorothy's daughter. Now that must have really had some cred in the gay bars he'd cruise after dark. 

 

But in the latest Australian serving of the musical sure to keep charter bus companies the nation over in business with senior citizen daytrips, Peter Allen has been delicately desexualised. I guess there just weren't as many bus trips to Brokeback Mountain. While Hugh Jackman was happy to kiss his on-stage lover in the broadway rendition that won him a Tony, he's been spared the confusing P.R in the current Australian tour.

 

But it's not because Australian audiences are essentially homophobic, heavens no. Murray Barlett, who plays Allen's lover, revealed the more altruistic-slash-creative reasons why, to the Sydney Morning Herald.

 

"We just wanted to keep it very simple and very pure... It's reaching so many people and sending out a message of tolerance and that love is the most important thing. We're very proud of that."

 

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras are not happy... well... campers. They pointed out that not only was it homophobic marketing strategy, it seemed ridiculous that it would be banned "in a city like Sydney, particularly given Sydney is considered one of the gay capitals of the world."

 

But where do the busloads of grannies come from? And what about the suburban mothers who catch the train down with their reading circle for the day? What about the blokes that take their wives to Sydney for the weekend, as an anniversary present? Women love theatre - they think it's "romantic". They've been dropping the hints to hubbie, for months.

 

And perhaps it's for the best, if what Hugh Jackman says is true. Whilst I can't really fathom The Boy From Oz demographic crossing over into the X-Men clan, there have apparently been a few in attendance. Imagine sitting in The Boy From Oz, surrounded by nursing home daytrips, and suburban couples celebrating anniversaries, and half of Darlinghurst; and suddenly, someone yells out...

 

"Don't do it, Wolverine!"

 

You'd think Big Brother would have taught this nation more.