If We Got Some More Cocaine I Could Show You How I Love You

’‘Love’s meant to be good, yeah, but this just fucking hurts’’ – no, these are not words uttered by an unhappy homo attempting anal for the first time, but the musings of Croydon-born Casey living in an unspecified town in West Ireland, as he reflects on the broken parental relationships which have acted as an example for him in his young life.

 


It’s a line which says a lot about the characters in this fast-paced play about two young gay boys trapped on the roof of a tenement.

Anger and frustration underpin the lives of our two protagonists, the witty Irish charmer Mikey and the gentler English Casey. What occurs atop the roof is an hour and a half of to-the-point comedy and hard truths in a story which speaks very directly to the experience of gay men who grew up away from the bright lights of the city. Our two lovers Mikey and Casey are hiding from police after robbing a petrol station. With nothing better to do several stories up the lads get cracked into a large bag of cocaine (and why not?) and become, heaven forbid, reflective.

 Casey wants to escape the town where nothing ever happens, where his stepfather intimidates and bullies him, and where he is afraid to be himself. Mikey finds himself facing abandonment from his only gay peer which echoes the loss of his best mate who ran away to Dublin to speak in accents, style daft haircuts and wear skinny jeans. If you’re reading this magazine then chances are you escaped your rural prison knowing the futility of staying where young gay men are forced to toughen up or be endlessly bullied and beaten. You may even be wearing skinny jeans but who am I to judge?

Many of us from non-metropolitan backgrounds will be familiar with the ideas in this play. In rural communities where there is only one ‘poof’ (in my case it was me. Ta-dah!) romantic prospects are limited, if not non-existent. Therefore the relationship between these boys is more than just a bit of fun, or even love – it is oxygen. A couple of bumps into their enviable ounce-sized baggie, the boys begin to confront this reality and others. In the intimate space of the Red Lion Theatre, the audience looks on with increased interest as their exchanges become more heated, sweaty and revealing.

With only two cast members, the real challenge for playwright John O’Donovan was to create dialogue that was fast and real, a task he handles with increasing confidence as the narrative picks up pace. There were a few proper laughs in a play peppered with witty remarks. The bulk of the comedy comes from cheeky chappy Mikey who at one point describes a woman’s pregnancy as a ‘waste of an erection’ which had me snorting with laughter for longer than was necessary. He is played by Alan Mahon – charismatic and familiar.

Counterpoint comes in the pleasing shape of Ammar Duffus as conflicted Casey. Editor Dylan Jones and I were in agreement that Mr. Duffus is a total babe and that seeing him crawl around a rooftop with his posterior in the air is reason enough to head to the theatre. Putting his looks aside, Duffus deftly conveys the gentler character with sensitivity and a simple honesty which means he totally holds his own alongside Mahon. I’ve never been stuck on a tenement roof with an ounce of cocaine, a hipflask of whiskey, and the gorgeous Ammar Duffus but if I were I’m not sure I’d ever want to come down.

All in all, this play feels acutely personal in the best way. We know these characters, the writer clearly knows these characters, and it really is a joy to watch.

I find theatre is best enjoyed half-pissed. I don’t like taking risks on something which might be a bit crap and find having a few gins prevents any evening from being a total waste. Know how much I enjoyed this play when I tell you I enjoyed it MORE than my gin and tonic! Both actors built up the tension with a great script and I was pleasantly surprised to find myself recommending it to friends. Ten points for Hufflepuff!

• If We Got Some More Cocaine… is at the Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington until 24th September. For more information and tickets go to oldredliontheatre.co.uk

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