Lloyd Evans Lloyd Evans

Lead us not into temptation

Blowing Whistles<br /> <em>Leicester Square Theatre<br /> </em><br /> Faces in the Crowd<br /> <em>Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court</em>

issue 01 November 2008

Blowing Whistles
Leicester Square Theatre


Faces in the Crowd
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court


Oh, what a gay play. The exhibitionist bravado of gay culture, its carnival antics and exuberant self-sufficiency convince us straight folk that we have nothing more to learn about this colourful subterranean neverland. Matthew Todd’s comedy is packed with welcome surprises. It opens with a pair of London swingers, Nigel and Jamie, awaiting a 17-year-old blind date trawled from an internet site. The boy turns out to be a blond-ringleted chav from Croydon, whose angelic looks and towerblock insouciance immediately confound their expectations. He’s bisexual, for one thing. ‘I like c**t,’ he tells the ogling queens. ‘I’m sure you do,’ says Jamie unruffled, ‘but I bet you couldn’t eat a whole one.’ After a night of passion, Jamie and Nigel are still individually attracted to the chav but the self-imposed rules of their swinging operations forbid further contact.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in