The play’s title is everything you could and would say, Jonathan Harvey has summed up the hopes of teenagers in a working class situation in inner London.
No one seeing the play could come away without the realisation that young Gay people have the same needSeand aspirations as everyone else – love (both spiritual and physical), a sense of belonging, and the need for emotional and physical security.
Beautiful Thing is a joy to watch. The script is sensitive and funny; and the acting of all five actors is superb. Jamie (Mark Letherer) and Ste (Shane Dingwall) bring a freshnesSeand spontaneity to their roles which is a job to behold. Leah (Spohie Stanton), Amelia Brown (Sandra) and Tony (Richard Bonneville) are the other cast members, and the play owes its presence and vitality no less to them. Richar’s “right on” characterisation makes very one of us oldies cringe when he appears, but you still can’t take your eyes away.
For those who saw Beautiful Thing it will stay fresh in their memories for many months: perhaps years; to come. For those who for whatever reason didn’t get to it, do try if it appears again – you won’t be sorry.
[Terry McFarlane