"The dialogue is dynamic, intelligent, rich with metaphor and certainly very suitable for the stage. The characters are clearly defined and nicely positioned to each other. Empathy, insight and humour populate the script with abundance," says Damon Berry, who read the role of Steve in Johannesburg, August 2011

After 15 years, Daniel E. Dercksen's play Straight Trophies is a reality. Following several re-writes, intensive readings and final draft readings in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban during August 2011, the emotional response from the actors who read the parts of Tommy, David and Steve, sealed the final draft of the play that will enjoy its world premiere at On Broadway in Cape Town in 2012. Dates will be confirmed. 

When the champion stud of the male to male massage trade enters the life and love of his obsessive client, he becomes a pawn caught in a web of deceit..

SHORT SYNOPSIS
On his 40^th birthday, David, and eccentric and flamboyant artist, decides to celebrate this with the stunning Tommy, one of the most popular straight boys working in the massage trade in Cape Town.

David's idealistic birthday wish is hijacked by real life and he sacrifices everything to make his hustler boyfriend and devoted lover understand the meaning of true love.

Tommy, the young object of affection can never fully be a part of his life, and Steve, his lover of 15 years has no idea who David really is.

By uniting Tommy and Steve, David can finally set himself free and feed his own ego.

Fantasy and reality collide head-on in David's brutal quest to find happiness and make those he loves happy.

3 men who want love, need to reconcile incompatible differences that separate.

The lives of three different people unite on one peculiar journey that is filled with pathos and candid revelations.

The truth surfaces and strips them bare, ultimately setting them free and releasing them from their humanity.

Thank you to Bjorn Steinbach, Anton Schafer, Godfrey Johnson (Cape Town), Damon Berry, Alex Radnitz, Andre de Beer (Johannesburg), and Adam Dore, William Charlton Perkins, Clinton Marius (Durban) who read the play during August 2011. And Karen van Schalkwyk. Without your kind support and understanding Straight Trophies would not have been possible.

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HISTORY
Straight Trophies is inspired by the play Yes, Masseur, which was written, directed and designed by Daniel E. Dercksen, and enjoyed its world premiere at the Dock Road Theatre on March 1, 1995. (produced by David and Renee Kramer and PDU Productions)
Straight Trophies is the follow up to Yes, Masseur, the second part of a trilogy. 
Yes, Masseur is the backstory to Tommy, showing his life as masseur. Set in one of the many massage studios in Cape Town, the play focuses on the conflict between two men, a masseur and his client.
In Straight Trophies, Tommy has crossed the line and has now become a part of a special client's private life.

'Surrender' .. David's Rule # 7
Says David in Straight Trophies: "Your union will liberate me. I will be able to live without guilt, love without pain, and live a life where I can be myself, without having ti prove anything to anyone. Rule number 7. Surrender."

In the play Tommy surrenders when he finally finally realizes that once you give in 'to the demands of your clients' and have 'stepped over the line' there really is no 'life on the other side of the door.."
For David: he surrenders to relationships that are empty.
By not surrendering to David's demands he ultimately surrenders to the passion that caused the upset in his life and destroyed his happiness.