Showing @ Laughing Horse @ The Phoenix, Edinburgh until Sun 24 Aug @ 17:00
This is a rather affecting, unpretentious play-with-music that looks at modern gay manners. Chris (Dan Reeves – who also wrote the script) is 18, mouthy and looking for fun/love. He flatshares with Kate (Bethan Francis) his BFF. Then he meets Joey (Jake Flowers). The plot somewhat defies expectations – Joey seems at first thoughtful and genuine while Chris is the self-obsessed, empty-headed little queen from Central Casting. Joey, however, is a cokehead and works as a well-paid escort with a sideline in trussing up frustrated investment bankers in his front room.
Will Joey and Chris find love or will everything go pear-shaped when the threesome move in together? This is not exactly 50 shades of gay but it’s a thoughtful piece – premiered at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2014 – that is well played throughout with singer-songwriter Bethan Francis providing welcome guitar-and-voice punctuation. There is some good witty dialogue and although it could in no way be described as deep, it’s a confident and winning production with a young and talented cast.