Inspired by a chance, drunken encounter by two men on America’s gay hot spot, Fire Island, Small Town Boys sees writer Tim McArthur take a more personal approach to play writing in this brand new stage show at the Union Theatre.
After meeting in a nightclub, two Brit’s take to the beach, late at night, to continue partying. But when they discover they both grew up in the same area of North England, they find that home towns aren’t the only thing that they have in common. Not only did they both date the same man, twenty years ago, they dated him at the same time – with neither of them ever knowing about the other.
Set on a beautiful looking sandy beach, the two characters tell their relationship stories in a series of flashbacks in this 90 minute piece. How could it be never they had never even heard mention of the other persons name, when they both thought they were in a committed relationship with the same man, at the same time?
Small Town Boys is a sweet play that reminisces over being young. It questions whether gay men lack the inclination to commit to just one partner because they don’t feel managomy is important, or whether it is deeper than that and after losing the love of their lives in their teenage years, they feel the love of just one man is unattainable.
I would have loved to see two different actors playing the younger versions of themselves in the flashback sequences, as a young actor playing alongside a middle aged man feels a little creepy. The language used throughout the play is a little unnecessarily crass, however it is nice to see the play explore deeper emotional connections, other than just sex.
West End Wilma
