Writer: Jonathan Harvey
Director: Anthony Simpson-Pike
It is hard to believe that Jonathan Harvey’s excellent play, Beautiful Thing is thirty years old this year. As this fantastic revival shows the play still feels wonderfully energetic, humorous, and optimistic. Set in a South London estate during the balmy days of summer when the age of consent for men is still twenty-one, Harvey’s play is a gentle coming out and coming of age story. The two protagonists, sixteen-year-old Jamie who loves TV’s Cagney and Lacey and his best friend Ste, star of the school football team live in neighbouring flats. Jamie lives with his emotionally supportive mother, Sandra, whilst Ste is a victim of domestic violence, regularly beaten up by his violent father.
As the long summer stretches out before them Jamie and Ste begin to explore their feelings and sexuality. In the company of their rebellious friend, Leah, who is obsessed with the American singer Mama Cass, they gently embark on a rite of passage that will take them to a bright new world of carefree love and dazzling opportunities. Full of Harvey’s trademark caustic wit and pithy one liners, reminiscent of his award-winning TV sitcom, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! the play’s humour remains as strong and vibrant as ever. With many of the audience old enough to fondly remember the Nineties, references to Bob’s Full House, Richard and Judy, Wincey Willis and others are warmly embraced.
Although the focus of the play is centred on Jamie and Ste, Harvey provides in Leah, Sandra and her boyfriend Tony, a strong set of supporting characters who each in their own distinctive ways help to nurture and navigate the young star struck lovers through their burgeoning love affair and romance. The cast of this special anniversary production are exceptional. Raphael Akuwudike as Ste and Joshua Asaré as Jamie are exquisite and sublime, they portray their characters with a perfect mix of bright-eyed innocence and youthful exuberance. Rarely has this reviewer seen two young actors perform with such confidence and natural grace and both are clearly names to look out for in the future. Shvorne Marks as Jamie’s mum is a fierce lioness who will do anything to protect her son. Marks takes a supporting role and makes it very much her own. As Sandra’s boyfriend, Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge is a great comic, who is also capable of conveying deep emotional depths. Scarlett Rayner as Leah gives a bravo performance that is charming, charismatic, and witty in equal measure. Her impersonation of Mama Cass is indeed a joy to behold.
Performed on the landing in front of the flats where the characters live, the set is suitably, grim, and dingy. It is used very creatively to suggest other locations such as Jamie’s bedroom and for a rousing finale a gay nightclub. Anthony Simpson-Pike directs with precision and purpose, in his very capable hands Harvey’s iconic masterpiece is not only given the respect and love that it richly deserves but on its own standalone merits is truly a beautiful thing. This coproduction between Theatre Royal Stratford East, Leeds Playhouse and Home is highly recommended.
Beautiful Thing runs until Saturday 11 November 2023
