By Brian Beacom

GARY Lamont’s normal effervescence smile has gone a little flat at the moment.

And that’s because River City’s Robbie the hairdresser has taken on a new acting project that’s stretching him more than more than a week at pilates with an angry trainer.

Gary, 32, is starring in 69 Shades of Gay, writer Stuart Thomas’s play about a gay man rewinding on his past love life before settling down with Number 69.

Aiden, we discover, flicks through his phone, looks back at his texts, snaps, numbers and the apps and comes to some dark and very funny conclusions.

So far so good.

However, the play is a monologue. And to be up there on stage alone, and remembering the lines without a co-star to prompt, is tougher than singing an Abba medley without a music track.

“It’s a total headknock,” says Gary of the rehearsal process, grinning, and not using that actual word.

“On the first day of rehearsals I thought I’d be fine. And then you realise your character talks, then talks some more . . . and he keeps on talking. And in Act 2 you talk again.”

The Castlemilk-born actor adds, smiling; “I’ve done my own one-man show before, but that was punctuated by songs. And this a different discipline. I have to say Stuart’s words. All of them.

“This is a proper play. But although I can’t see the wood for the trees at the moment I know it will be great, because it’s very funny. And very dirty.”

He adds, with a wry smile; “And I do know that I learn line for a living.”

Aiden is nothing like Gary’s River City character, Robbie.

“I thought Robbie was fairly open but the two just don’t compare,” he explains.

“There is no filter to Aiden at all. I’m not a particularly private person although I have to be a bit guarded. You are aware of social media and the consequences of saying the wrong thing.

“But this guy says exactly what he thinks. At first you think he’s a bit bawdy, but then you realise his openness is so refreshing.”

What Aiden also does is ‘throw himself at anyone and everyone’, which is not like Gary Lamont at all.

“There is no shame in the man,” says the actor, grinning.

“And no, I don’t see parallels in my own life with parts of Aiden’s character.

“The main reason is he’s quite an insecure character. I’m not. Well, I’m fairly secure in that I know who I am and what I have to give and what I have to gain.

“He’s a man who seems to be clutching at straws. And this manifests itself in his love life.

“But it’s not only his love life that’s a mess. His flat’s a mess and he’s a total p***head.”

“What sums him up for me is he’s on the phone continually to IKEA to find out when his sofa will arrive. But in Act Two he tells them he doesn’t need the sofa anymore because he’s been dumped.

“And in desperation he leaves them a message on the IKEA phone saying ‘If you’re ever in the area I live above Jaconelli’s on Maryhill Road. Just come up.

Yet, there’s something that’s lovely and vulnerable about him.”

It’s a delight to be able to play someone who is so out there. Stuart Thomas’s play has already been a storming success in Ireland.

“What I also like about Aiden is he swears like a trooper. If he’s a version of Robbie he’s certainly post watershed.”

Gary admits he worried about playing another gay character.

“But as I read on I realised he’s a very funny character, and lost. And that makes him so real. You get to the truth of him.”

Gary believes it’s great to be able to leap into the demands of a theatre play because it’s such a contrast to working on the Dumbarton film lot with River City.

“River City has become the day-job. I’ve been there for eight years and I’m only thirty two. And it’s been marvellous. Even if it ended tomorrow I’d be happy to be part of it.

“But it’s lovely to have another challenge and do something like this.

“I’ve always filled my breaks.”

Gary has done more than fill his breaks. This year his Cinderella performance at the King’s was a critical success. And being able to sing offers a good opportunity for me.”

“At least I got to play a boy this time around,” he says of his Dandini, (as opposed to his previous dames.)

“I was so glad to be hear I’d be out of heels, although they ended up giving me these Cuban heels to wear.

“But I loved the whole experience.”

He believes 69 Shades of Gay, written by the creator of smash hit play Salon Janette, has arrived at the right time in his career.

“I’ll never be as scared as I was doing my own show last summer.

And although this one is a real challenge it’s serendipity it’s come along at this time.”

• Sixty Nine Shades of Gay, Oran Mor, February 8 – 18.