Brief Summary
In this episode of Showgaze, Adam, R.J., and Molly discuss the 2008 cinemusical "Were the World Mine," a film based on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with a gay twist. They dissect the plot, its serious tone, and its impact (or lack thereof) on the gay millennial experience. The hosts explore the movie's themes, characters, and musical elements, comparing it to other queer media and musicals. They also brainstorm new musical concepts based on Shakespearean plays, combining them with various musical genres.
- The hosts discuss the plot of "Were the World Mine," a musical about a gay student who uses a love potion to cast a spell on his town.
- They analyze the serious and somber tone of the musical, contrasting it with the potential for a more lighthearted approach.
- The hosts compare the film to other queer media and musicals, discussing its impact on the gay millennial experience.
- They brainstorm new musical concepts based on Shakespearean plays, combining them with various musical genres.
Intro
Adam, R.J., and Molly introduce the episode, focusing on the cinemusical "Were the World Mine." They discuss the challenges of categorizing the film as either a movie musical or a cinemusical, noting its unique qualities. Molly shares her anticipation for the upcoming camp season, while R.J. mentions the summer heat and the start of Pride month in Chicago. They acknowledge that some cities celebrate Pride in different months due to various reasons, including historical events and weather conditions.
Mailbag and Plot Summary
The hosts briefly address a message from a listener, Nicole, who reports a positive experience with her hair. R.J. is then challenged to summarize the plot of "Were the World Mine" in one minute. R.J. recounts the story of Timothy, a bullied gay student who, as Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," uses a love potion to create gay chaos in his town. The parents become concerned, and Miss Abbott, the drama teacher, instructs Timothy to end the spell. During the play, Timothy reverses the spell, but the experience leads to greater tolerance and acceptance, with Jonathan revealing his genuine love for Timothy.
Initial Impressions and Context
The hosts discuss their initial impressions of "Were the World Mine," contrasting it with what one might expect from a musical with a similar plot in 2025. Adam expresses surprise at the film's serious and somber tone, while R.J. recalls watching it on Logo and not having strong feelings about it. Adam reflects on his experience as an out gay teen in the early 2000s, noting the lack of representation and the discomfort of seeing same-sex kissing on screen. R.J. shares his memory of renting the movie and feeling underwhelmed by the music. Molly mentions her high school experience with "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and her disappointment at not being cast as Puck.
Midsummer Night's Dream Summary
The hosts discuss the history of "Were the World Mine," starting with William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Adam uses Google's Gemini to summarize the plot of the play, which involves four young lovers, a group of amateur actors, and mischievous fairies in an Athenian forest. The summary details the conflicts between the lovers, the rehearsals of the actors, and the feuding fairy king and queen, Oberon and Tatana. Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, causes chaos with a magical flower, leading to mistaken identities and romantic entanglements. Eventually, Oberon rectifies Puck's errors, and the play concludes with a triple wedding ceremony and the fairies blessing the newlyweds.
Fairies Short Film and Production Details
The hosts discuss "Fairies," a 2003 short film that served as the basis for "Were the World Mine." They note the similarities between the two and speculate that the short film's concept was expanded into a full-length feature. Adam recalls a student film festival where he saw a similar concept of a reverse world where everyone was gay except for one ostracized straight person. The hosts then provide production details for "Were the World Mine," including the director, writers, producers, cast, cinematography, editing, music, production company, distributor, release date, running time, and box office return.
Awards and Box Office Performance
The hosts list the awards "Were the World Mine" won at various film festivals, including the Heineken Red Star Award at Outfest 2008 and the James Lyon Editing Award at the Woodstock Film Festival. They also discuss the film's box office performance, noting that it was only shown in a limited number of theaters. The hosts then mention the top five movies in the box office during the week "Were the World Mine" was in its widest release: "The Day the Earth Stood Still," "Four Christmases," "Twilight," "Bolt," and "Australia."
Discussion: Tone and Themes
The hosts begin their discussion by noting the good ideas in the movie, but the somber tone makes it hard to enjoy. They discuss how the film's seriousness makes it difficult to be critical, as it doesn't allow for much fun. The characters are simple, and it takes a long time for the plot to develop. They acknowledge that being out in high school was difficult in 2008 and may become more relevant again due to increasing homophobia, but the film doesn't need to be so serious all the time. They compare it to "The Prom" and "Priscilla," which have a sense of human spirit and joy despite adversity. The hosts express fatigue with early 2000s gay media that focused on bullying and misery, and they wish for more levity and happiness in gay stories.
Discussion: Characters and Magic
The hosts continue their discussion, noting that "Were the World Mine" lacks a central character with a fun personality, unlike Jamie in "Everybody's Talking About Jamie." They criticize the lead actor's performance and the script for not giving him much to do. The hosts find the magic element of the film interesting but feel that it lacks joy and excitement. They discuss the scene where Timothy turns everyone gay and the reactions of the characters, noting the missed opportunities for humor and fun. The hosts also discuss the mechanics of the spell and the confusing wig worn by Timothy at the end of the show.
Discussion: Time Capsule and Mother-Son Relationship
The hosts discuss how "Were the World Mine" is a time capsule, reflecting the homophobia of the George W. Bush era. They note the seriousness of the tone and suggest that it may be a reference to the Matthew Shepard murder. The hosts analyze the complicated relationship between Timothy and his mother, noting the subtext of blame and regret. They discuss the mother's characterization as both caring and antagonistic, suggesting that it would have been more interesting if she had been supportive but still had questions and concerns. The hosts also discuss the sensual nature of the scenes where characters are under the spell, noting the discomfort and lack of consent.
Discussion: Endings and Performances
The hosts discuss the ending of "Were the World Mine," noting that it is too neat and tidy for such a serious film. They suggest that it would have been more impactful if the film had ended with Timothy still facing the challenges of everyday life. The hosts praise the performances, particularly Tanner Cohen's singing voice and Wendy Roby's portrayal of Miss Tabet. They also appreciate the film's costuming and the magical realm it creates. However, they conclude that they would not watch the movie again, noting its pacing issues and lack of execution.
Director's Other Works and Final Thoughts
The hosts discuss director Tom Gustoson's other works, including "Mariachi Gringo," "Hello Again," and "Glitter and Doom." They express interest in watching "Glitter and Doom," a fantastical romance told with the music of the Indigo Girls. The hosts share their final thoughts on "Were the World Mine," with Molly wishing that Alex had been a lesbian and R.J. expressing confusion about the relationship between Alex and Frankie. They conclude that the film is not campy and suggest watching "Priscilla" instead.
Reviews and MVPs
The hosts read reviews of "Were the World Mine" from Rotten Tomatoes and Letterboxd, noting the mixed reactions to the film's tone, music, and dialogue. They then choose their MVPs for the movie, with R.J. selecting Miss Tabet, Molly choosing Tanner Cohen, and Adam picking Tom Gustoson. The hosts acknowledge that the film has a dedicated fanbase and that it may resonate with viewers who are not as invested in movie musicals.
Shakespearean Musical Concepts
The hosts use a random name generator to create new musical concepts based on Shakespearean plays. Adam gets Hamlet and operetta, and pitches a contemporary ghost hunter story set in a castle. R.J. gets Romeo and Juliet and contemporary musical theater, and suggests a vogue house competition. Molly gets Much Ado About Nothing and golden age musical, and proposes a Navy ship setting. The hosts discuss the plots and settings of their musicals, brainstorming ideas for characters, costumes, and set design.
Outro
The hosts conclude the episode, thanking the listeners for tuning in. R.J. sings a song from the movie, and the hosts provide information on how to contact the show and follow The Ampliverse on social media. They announce that the next episode will feature "Love Me or Leave Me."
