I don’t think the boy was in love and I don’t think either man was gay. The boy didn’t want to be in the play to begin with. Then the man embarrassed him in front of everyone and wanted him replaced. The boy learned about the man’s method acting and decided to show the man how he could do the same thing and how well he could act. All the things he did seemed to tie in with his character. The hanging went a little far but he knew he wouldn’t die and really scared the man. The man got played. Unfortunately, the man, although he loved his wife, did fall for the boy somewhere along the way. Mid-life crisis I guess. Very clever story.