Straight and Narrow

I feel very proud of Rats to have produced ‘Straight and Narrow,’ firstly in 2000, 23 years ago when LGBT wasn’t even around then (by that title). I saw this play at ‘Above the Stag,’ and Rats latest production is much better.  It is set in the 1980s, (which I can remember vividly being a gay man) Bob and Jeff are returning from two weeks away in Malta. Bob’s family are at their home for lunch ready to welcome them home. Unfortunately, something went awry on the holiday and Bob and Jeff are in the middle of a blazing row. His elder sister, Nona (Faye Wyatt) is in a state of constant tears as her husband has run off with a shop assistant from Boots, and Bob's other sister, the very pregnant Lois (Laura Bassett), tries to keep the peace, which isn’t easy with the battle axe of their mother Vera (Linda Brown) always sticking her oar in.

This play covers all scenarios and set-ups in a couple’s gay life, happy and sad, one minute you are laughing and the next you are welling up. Joanna Godman and Kerry Bailey brought Jimmie Chinn’s play to their audience and made gay life come to life, obviously a lot of the audience would not know about gay life, The passion that Joanna and Keely have directed in this play is foremost and it will make their audiences sit up and think. Well done to both of you - not easy with the subject of this great piece of theatre. Bob (Josh Webb) takes most of the dialogue, directing a lot of it to the audience and does this with ease, a very confidant actor, his nuances are just perfect, he could have gone over the top portraying a gay man. but Josh got it spot on. Jeff (Ryan Caston), what a talent this young man is, he can turn his emotions in a part whether to be happy or sad, but for Jeff it’s more sadness, he wants children.  Not possible way back then in the 80s - today it’s a different story.  Ryan is the perfect choice for the part of Jeff. 

 Linda Brown playing Vera, the bossy mother, gave a strong performance as Vera not knowing her son is gay.  This was often the case and Linda keep true to this situation.   Laura Bassett and Faye Wyatt worked well together as the two sisters, Lois and Nona, protecting their gay brother.  Laura, a young actor, took the role of pregnant Lois to new heights not easy for such a young actor, well done.  Nona (Faye Wyatt) showed her vulnerability as the Wife of Arthur (Larry Davis) the straight husband. Bill (Dean Caston) the butch husband of Lois.  Dean a very competent actor, Bill gave us a solid performance of ‘I don’t give a bugger’.

The set was built by the cast and was in period for the 80s as were the properties, all credit to the stage management of Hugh Bailey.

Thank you RaTs for bringing this splendid gay play to the Oast for the second time. You took this delicate subject of the 80s to fruition, and I hope you made your audiences to sit up and think what it was like way back then, It certainly was directed well by Jo and Keely covering all emotions of being gay at that time.

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