Reliving and re-evaluating long-ago memories
As I sat in the Union bar waiting for the theatre doors to open, Nathan Taylor, one of the three cast, burst through them in a white toga, gold boots, a tiara of shooting stars and angel wings before jumping atop a table and giving us a great rendition of The Eurythmics’ There Must Be An Angel. What an opening I thought while checking the programme to see how Tim McArthur’s true tale of Small Town Boys could possibly begin like this, writes Michael Holland.
Mr Taylor then went on to give a little drag act routine to keep us amused and out of the theatre. It was only when Stuart Simons, another cast member, went scuttling sheepishly past, muttering, ‘Sorry, sorry, sorry,’ that we realised Nathan was covering for Stuart’s tardiness.
But it was great impromptu fun while it lasted and a good smother for his colleague.
Inside we find our two men, Tom(Nathan) and Drew, post-party on a Fire Island beach, tipsy, happy and more than a little flirty. When the kissing suddenly began they had to desist and reveal their long-term relationships at home before putting a little distance between themselves in order the maintain fidelity to their significant others.
They continued talking with lust smouldering in their eyes but staying faithful to their men at home.
Eventually the discussion turned to where they came from and neither of them could believe that they – with their nice English accents – both hailed from Middlesborough where a north-east dialect is strong.
They talked about the clubs they frequented, schools they went to, places they avoided and how they first came out… Their discussion covered the problems in the gay community in the early 90s, highlighting that life hasn’t improved that much for young people 30 years on.
Another spark was added to the dynamic and the play picked up the pace when they realised they had both dated Jason(Dominic Charman) at the same time, the boy with ‘beautiful blue eyes’.
Scenes were played out through flashbacks to their teen years, we – and Tom and Drew – discover how Jason had played them both as they fell for his charms. This new knowledge created mixed emotions, forcing them to relive and re-evaluate all the long-ago memories they had of their relationship with Jason.
And then it all comes to a close when Tom says, ‘This would make a great story; I think I’ll write it as a play.’
Is it a great story? It’s merely a coincidence that would make an excellent anecdote whenever the topic of coincidences or old relationships comes up in conversation. Life is a series of coincidences and this one connected two people to a town when they were thousands of miles away and opened up another connection with a third person.
Is it a good play? It is nicely directed and acted, but merely shows how mundane life can be for 90% of the time if written as it actually happened. Unless this mini-drama is embellished with excitement then it is just reminiscing.
Should it have been made into a play? Yes, absolutely, because without addressing, on stage and screen, the problems facing the LGBT+ community, then the problems depicted in Small Town Boys will always remain in society and not become the norm, as they should be.
That community still need safe places to go where they can talk openly about their experiences and theatre is one of them. Plus, it’s a learning curve for heterosexuals in the audience; I found out I’m a Honey Bear and not a Twink!
PS. When the photos arrived from the PR people I noticed that Nathan’s Angel routine was among them, so all that latecomer fore-play was part of the evening’s entertainment and not just a distraction.
Union Theatre, 229 Union Street, SE1 0LR until 5th October. Time 7.30pm; Sunday matinees 3pm. Admission: £20, £25.
Booking: https://uniontheatre.biz/ – Apply ‘FRIENDS15’ at checkout for a special offer!
