Blowing Whistles at Leicester Sqaure Theatre

Blowing Whistles at Leicester Sqaure Theatre

18 November, 2008
by: ChloeM

Despite the wishes of his devoted loving boyfriend, Nigel (Stuart Laing) lives for the weekend. He loves Vauxhall's clubs, drugs, and most of all men. 

The opening scene of the play is a snapshot of Nigel's relationship, as he celebrates his ten year anniversary by arranging a threesome with a young twink from Gaydar, the gay personals networking site. Nigel is aching to get started, while boyfriend Jamie (Paul Keating) says he'd rather have a piece of cake. What they actually share a piece of is Mark (Daniel Finn), a hot 17-year-old who is new to the scene and causing a sensation (on Gaydar at least).

Nigel and Jamie's relationship is fragile in both the real and online world, where there are constantly men ready and waiting for no-strings-attached sex. Mark is quick to discover the superficiality of the scene and figures that being young and good-looking is a ticket to get him anywhere. Such pressures are huge in contemporary gay culture, which is as equally celebrated as it is criticised by these characters - leading them to question the meaning of gay identity and pride itself.

After joking about straight men suffering because they're more sexually inhibited, the question of whether Nigel and Jamie's physical life can get back on track is left as open as their doomed relationship. As the story unfolds, the couple's hedonistic journey moves from comedy to tragedy; from witty repostes to loss and heartbreak. Although the play may cut a little too close to the lifestyle bone for some, it ultimately makes for thoughtful, rather than uncomfortable, viewing.  A beautifully scripted, directed and executed performance which sensitively addresses gay lifestyles and relationships.


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ChloeM