Beautiful Thing

We often recall the past fondly, constructing it as a simple and uncomplicated time, but life in an East London housing estate in the early 90s is anything but. Playing at Chapel off Chapel till Sunday, 10 June, the latest adaptation of Jonathan Harvey’s award-winning play, Beautiful Thing, is a touching and saccharine reminder that when it comes to matters of the heart, love is an achingly complicated affair.

Beautiful Thing revolves around Jamie, a sixteen-year-old boy who is coming to terms with being gay. He is often at odds with his mother, Sandra, their relationship strained by her outspoken and vitriolic attitude towards the troubled teen and their neighbour, Leah, who idly spends her days listening to music by Mama Cass. Then there is Ste, the athletic and popular boy-next-door type, whom Jamie secretly loves. 

One night, Ste leaves his house due to a family argument, and Sandra invites him to stay at their house, and sleep in Jamie’s bedroom. The two boys share a bed, sleeping “top-to-toe”, and Ste notices how attractive Jamie looks wearing glasses while he reads. A spark between them grows. On another occasion, Ste is beaten badly by his brother and seeks refuge at Jamie’s house. Jamie applies a soothing peppermint lotion Sandra bought from The Body Shop, and as he applies the cream on Ste’s back, the pair share their first kiss. Fearing rejection – or worse – from those around them, Jamie and Ste embark on a secret romance while embracing their sexuality. However, in a tight-knit community, the truth often surfaces.  

Director Cal Robinson-Taylor skilfully captures the pulse of the early 90s, a time dominated by Madonna, Mastermind and Margaret Thatcher. The many sub-plots of Sandra and her boyfriend Tony’s deteriorating relationship, and Sandra and Leah’s stubborn animosity, weave together so seamlessly that they almost detract from Jamie and Ste’s love story. The cast were a delight to watch and produced many, many hilarious moments. Sandra’s uncouth remarks and Leah’s trip on acid were among the highlights.

On the surface, Beautiful Thing is extremely amusing, unapologetic and brilliantly unrefined, but beneath the blue-collar veneer is a surprisingly sweet tale of falling in love for the first time, finding yourself, and aspiring to greater heights. 

Beautiful Thing 
Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
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