BEAUTIFUL THING

A brave departure for The Rep, which I think was sensitively handled by the Director, who gave his cast a personal vibe to make this a charming, but perceptive look at young gay love in the 90’s, when we were perhaps not as accepting of the LGBTQ+ community as we are today.

The set was extremely well thought-out – looking simple at first glance – in what was basically three front doors where the characters lived - but behind each door was a glimpse of the different décor and lifestyles of the occupants, and the bedroom was great – with a lovely star frieze, that when lit was beautifully colourful.  The set was nicely dressed too.  Attention to detail on every level brought the set to life and augmented the production.

I liked the lighting, as it enhanced the set and feeling of the piece, using the rainbow colours particularly in the bedroom scenes, which are linked to the LGBTQ+ community.

Mostly costumes were in keeping with the characters, and the music used was reminiscent of the era, and brought back many memories of those times and how difficult it was for young people to go against the perceived norm.

The vibe between Jamie (Joe Hawkins) and Ste (Sam Rowland) was very well-drawn, showing their uncertainty in their new relationship and the denial, before having to accept what they both felt and wanted.  I liked Joe’s reflective quality and Sam’s withdrawn, laid back portrayals, I thought they both got the feel of 16 year olds coming to terms with their sexuality so well, which must have been difficult given their actual ages.  Extremely well done.

Leah (Ella Sarti) as the two boys neighbour, showed a good understanding of the typical teenager of the times, a telling portrayal, again insecurity and blossoming into a more adult realisation of herself and the boys.  Well done Ella.

Sandra (Johanna White) and Tony (Marlon Gill) as the parental figures, gave their usual impeccable portrayals of the feisty, gutsy mother and her more restrained boyfriend.  A good pairing who added so much to the overall character and feel of the play……excellent.

This was a play that dealt well with the subject matter, and there were many funny moments, which in a way was a relief to laugh out loud at, given the serious side of the script.  Very well-played by all concerned.

My thanks to Dunstable Rep and the Director for their hospitality, a good evening with plenty to reflect on for the audience

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