Post by n1david on Aug 8, 2017 22:57:30 GMT
A quick mention for Coming Clean, a revival of Kevin Elyot's 1982 play (previously seen at the Bush) at the King's Head Theatre in Islington. Given the recent revival of My Night With Reg and the Park Theatre's just-closed production of Elyot's last play, Twilight Song, this provides an interesting opportunity to review the start and end of this man's career.
It's an interesting play, set mostly around a couple at their 5-year anniversary. Greg is an gruff American academic, who's been with Tony, an aspiring writer in an open relationship. Tony's friend Michael is a wonderfully camp cruiser who'll have sex with anyone he can. and they hire a new cleaner, aspiring actor Richard (or is it Robert?)
It was written before AIDS, but touches on some of Reg's themes about long-term relationships, and how the desires for love and sex drive people to different behaviours. There's a great central performance by Lee Knight as Tony, wavering between what he wants and what he thinks he can get, although not all the performances reach that level. I found it very thought-provoking, and a fascinating throwback to gay life almost immediately pre-AIDS.
The last act in this production seems misjudged, but I think that is in large part to do with the script and only some with this production - but that's basically trivial compared to the main dramatic thrust of the show.
It's a bit of a curiosity, but if you've seen Reg and/or Twilight Song, I think this deserves a look.
Oh, and the King's Head audience really shouldn't react verbally to full-frontal nudity. I can't imagine how the actor felt... There was a large party in who had obviously been drinking beforehand and at the interval so maybe this was an outlier. Maybe the move to a new venue next year will change things.
It's an interesting play, set mostly around a couple at their 5-year anniversary. Greg is an gruff American academic, who's been with Tony, an aspiring writer in an open relationship. Tony's friend Michael is a wonderfully camp cruiser who'll have sex with anyone he can. and they hire a new cleaner, aspiring actor Richard (or is it Robert?)
It was written before AIDS, but touches on some of Reg's themes about long-term relationships, and how the desires for love and sex drive people to different behaviours. There's a great central performance by Lee Knight as Tony, wavering between what he wants and what he thinks he can get, although not all the performances reach that level. I found it very thought-provoking, and a fascinating throwback to gay life almost immediately pre-AIDS.
The last act in this production seems misjudged, but I think that is in large part to do with the script and only some with this production - but that's basically trivial compared to the main dramatic thrust of the show.
It's a bit of a curiosity, but if you've seen Reg and/or Twilight Song, I think this deserves a look.
Oh, and the King's Head audience really shouldn't react verbally to full-frontal nudity. I can't imagine how the actor felt... There was a large party in who had obviously been drinking beforehand and at the interval so maybe this was an outlier. Maybe the move to a new venue next year will change things.