Jonthan Harvey’s landmark play ‘Beautiful Thing’, first seen in 1993 and adapted into a cult Channel 4 Film in 1996, makes a welcome return to the West End stage.
Set on a Thamesmead council estate over a long, hot summer, teenage Jamie is falling in love with school pal neighbour, Ste. His young mother Sandra is negotiating a punishing work schedule, a developing relationship with her boyfriend and keeping her son on the er…straight and narrow. With feisty teenage neighbour Leah thrown into the mix, the cramped council flat walkway where this particular coming out/of age tale is told definitely sees more than its fair share of action.
Nikolai Foster’s direction really brings out the best in his cast, allowing them to deliver expert but non showy performances. The design – a rising bed that delineates Jamie’s bedroom is a simple but effective touch, and the lighting is spot on, with a hot, balmy city summer evening recreated on stage.
Suranne Jones is fantastic as Sandra, delivering a subtle, nuanced, charismatic, forthright yet conflicted performance. I loved her stance as she leaned in on her son’s bed to challenge him, like a lioness on her watch; fierce and primal and up in her sons face.
The two boys, Jake Davies as Jamie and Danny-Boy Hatchard as Ste are also impressive. Davies captures Jamie’s innocence and fear of the adult world, while Hatchard as the tougher and more streetwise of the two really encapsulates the essence of his character. There is strong support from Oliver Farnworth as Tony and Zaraah Abrahmas as Leah.
Harvey’s writing is great, never relying on stereotype; we feel that these are real characters, living and breathing, on and off stage, which is also a testament to the writing, direction and acting in this production. Sharp lines and observations (‘‘kids are cunts’’ is a particular favourite) abound and the more sensitive moments are just as well-crafted and expertly handled.
Is Harvey’s play still relevant? Do we as a gay audience need to see another coming out tale? Yes, we do because Harvey’s iconic, landmark and ground breaking play reminds us that someone, somewhere is still experiencing their first love and trying to find their place in a still hostile world. An evening spent with the inhabitants of this particular flat in Thamesmead is a good reminder of that.
• Arts Theatre, 6-7 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JB. Runs to 25th May.
• Box Office: 020 7836 8463. www.BeautThing.com
