Strangers In Between

It’s long been a rite of passage that young gay men escape to the freedom and adventures of inner city Sydney. 

They leave behind conventional families, often in discord, and in the big smoke build other relationships better matched to their new identity.

Fresh from a revival in the West End, and here for Mardi Gras, Tommy Murphy’s 2005 play is a simple but touching story of a 16-year-old boy from Goulburn finding his way – and new friendships – through Kings Cross.

Wil King is perfect as the gangly Shane, with his teenage paranoias and non-sequiturs , his random enthusiasms.   He sprays all this at his new bed buddy, the reserved if gorgeous Will (Guy Simon) and also an older gay man he meets, Peter, played with a gentle, cardiganed campness by Simon Burke. 

Not much happens.  Shane’s bullying, troubled brother (also Guy Simon) arrives and tries to drag him home… and Shane gets a bad STD, which in a torrent of self-hatred unleashes his internal homophobia.  But the long scenes between Shane and each character are profoundly true, tender and funny, as his new alternative queer family takes shape.

Director Daniel Lammin creates magic between his actors and trusts in their stillness without moving them around unnecessarily. Abbie Lea Hough’s open stage, against a disco  curtain of silver strips, does feature a central bath; it’s used at the cathartic end but doesn’t quite live up to its iconic position.   

Small matter, and Hough’s costumes nicely define character.  This is a celebratory but achingly realistic look at gay lives, from the then young author who later was to bring us the play and film, Holding the Man.

Martin Portus

Photographer: Sarah Walker.