Playground politics and the drama between teams of fogeys is ripe materials for writers of all types. From the excruciating television present Motherland, to final 12 months’s star-studded Eureka Day on the Old Vic, clashing personalities, and the heightened feelings of fogeys discussing their youngsters serve to drive the comedy and drama. Through the guise of it being “about the kids” large subjects will be analysed and debated in a seemingly harmless context. And that is the place playwright Zak Zarafshan decides to set his debut play The Boys are Kissing. The narrative focuses on two boys kissing within the playground,…
Rating
Good
An surprising twist lifts this playground drama to angelic heights, in what turns into a really humorous and thought-provoking play.
Playground politics and the drama between teams of fogeys is ripe materials for writers of all types. From the excruciating television present Motherland, to final 12 months’s star-studded Eureka Day on the Old Vic, clashing personalities, and the heightened feelings of fogeys discussing their youngsters serve to drive the comedy and drama. Through the guise of it being “about the kids” large subjects will be analysed and debated in a seemingly harmless context. And that is the place playwright Zak Zarafshan decides to set his debut play The Boys are Kissing.
The narrative focuses on two boys kissing within the playground, utilizing this occasion as a driver for discussions about gender, sexuality, consent, racism, and abortion. Quite the listing for simply two hours on stage, and at instances the themes do really feel shoe-horned in. In explicit, the feedback about abortion really feel thrown away, and maybe this can be a subject higher left alone if not given the area and time it wants. But typically, this can be a excellent play, shining a light-weight on ingrained prejudices and judgements, while proudly celebrating our variations.
We first meet the mother and father discussing the kiss, on the suggestion of the top instructor, with tensions immediately, and fairly deliciously, tangible on stage. Amira (Seyan Sarvan) and Chloe (Eleanor Wyld) are a lesbian couple who query the necessity to even have the dialogue, while Sarah (Amy McAllister) and Matt (Philip Coreia) wrestle to debate their viewpoint, and simply trigger offence. Despite the upsetting points beneath debate, the awkwardness between all 4 could be very amusing. This group works collectively fantastically, with Wyld and McAllister being significantly pleasant to look at all through.
What lifts this play from being simply one other playground drama with an agenda, is the introduction of two Cherubs. In truth, they’re the winged Guardians of the Gays, an historic order which has been round for a very long time – “New day, same old shit. I am very tired”. They are right here to information “queens through the wilderness of life”, and they’re a genius addition to the narrative. Kishore Walker performs Cherub Two with allure, humour, and indulgence, while Shane Convery is an absolute pleasure to look at all through. Plus, their make-up is perfection.
A easy, White Lotus-esque set appears to be fairly static at first, portraying a rich middle-class dwelling, till it’s brilliantly exploited within the second half. Without freely giving any spoilers, the way in which the cherubs burst onto the scene at one level elicits screams and laughs all through the theatre. Lighting and sound results additionally come into their very own at any time when the cherubs seem, and this elevate from the abnormal brings the play to life.
Sometimes theatre with a transparent agenda can really feel cliched or overdone. But what Zarafshan does in The Boys are Kissing is carry a playground drama to an entire new stage. The inclusion of the cherubs is a humorous transfer, but additionally an ingenious one. This is an entertaining play which succeeds within the necessary enterprise of celebrating everybody’s variations, while additionally acknowledging that generally all we actually need is an evening in with a bottle of Pinot Noir and presumably a kitchen island, if we’re fortunate sufficient.
Written by: Zak Zarafshan
Directed by: Lisa Spirling
Produced by: Ceri Lothian
The Boys Are Kissing performs at Theatre503 till 4 February 2023. Further data and bookings will be discovered right here.