American actor and writer Austin Jennings Boykin has encountered an unexpected obstacle promoting his solo show, "A Gay Masseur’s Guide to Happy Endings," at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A group of evangelical Christians from North Carolina, Boykin’s home state, has established a missionary cafe directly in front of the poster for his play.
According to a Fringe insider, the missionaries "blocked the poster to Boykin’s play." When show producers attempted to address the situation, they reported that the missionaries asked "what it would take for them to accept Jesus into their heart."
The show is described as a dark comedy drawing from Boykin’s experiences as a gay masseur and aspiring actor in New York City. The production previously underwent a workshop in Provincetown.
It remains unclear whether the Christian group specifically targeted the show due to its subject matter or if their presence is coincidental. The poster features Boykin in minimal attire, covered by a sheet.
In response to the situation, Boykin has taken a direct approach, posing with a copy of his poster and a massage table in front of the Christian coffee tent. The Edinburgh Fringe festival, which features hundreds of shows across numerous venues, runs for three weeks in August and is known for launching successful productions, such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge's "Fleabag."