Holding the Man

In a week where marriage equality dominated the national news, the vandalizing and removal of posters for Lane Cove Theatre Company’s production also made the news in the lead up to opening night.

The sensitive, real-life rites-of-passage story of two young gay men, from teenagers in a Catholic Boys School in the 1970s through the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic and young lives cut short, is based on central character Timothy Conigrave’s own memoir.

Beautiful writing and truthful performances combine in this heart-warming production. The relationship between Brent Dolahenty as Tim and Wayne Buckley as John resonates powerfully and touchingly. They ensured that I cared deeply about these two young men and the love they shared.

A supporting ensemble of four – Trent Gardner, Rebecca Leedham, Isaac Downey, and Hannah Lehmann - move adeptly between the wide range of characters who populate the play. They differentiate friends, school mates, parents, and the gay community of the 1980s with aplomb, pathos and some utterly delicious character-based humour.

Their camping scene had the audience in stitches, clubbing scenes too were great fun, while their episodic scenes as the parents delivered genuine journeys, rousing our empathy along steep learning and loving curves from disapproval to acceptance.

The production’s simple design (well-placed black flats with chalked messages) should have allowed a swift, cinematic flow of the numerous scenes, so perhaps my only qualm was that a soundtrack of hits from the era slowed the flow of the evening. Shorter musical grabs would have maintained the ambience, while tightening the pace.

With its messages of love and acceptance, this production of Holding The Man couldn’t be more timely, or more engaging. Do get along!

Neil Litchfield

Photographer: Dawn Pugh