Editing Beautiful Thing (play)

{{Short description|1993 play by Jonathan Harvey}}

{{Infobox play
|name=Beautiful Thing
|writer=[[Jonathan Harvey (playwright)|Jonathan Harvey]]
|premiere=1993
|setting=Council estate, South London
|genre=[[Comedy]]
}}

'''''Beautiful Thing''''' is a 1993 British play written by [[Jonathan Harvey (playwright)|Jonathan Harvey]]. A 
[[Beautiful Thing (film)|screen adaptation of the play]] was released in 1996 by [[Film4 Productions|Channel 4 Films]],<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Variety|date=10 March 1996|title=Beautiful Thing|author=Derek Elley|page=77|quote=Pic, which also unspools at this year's AFM, had buyers scrambling for their cell phones in the Berlin market and is rumored to be a contender for a spot in the sun at Cannes. Its world preem is set for March 28 in the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.}}</ref> with a revised screenplay also by Harvey.

==Plot of the Screen Version==
The story is set in [[Thamesmead]], a working class area of South East London dominated by post-war council estates.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Times|date=3 August 1993|title=If only things were so simple|author=Benedict Nightingale|quote=Into the Bush we go and what strikes our eager eyes? Concrete paving, grey stucco walls, drab doors with 368, 369 and 370 embossed on them, and, as a feeble protest against the gloom, a few flowerpots and plaster dwarfs. This is the third floor of a council estate in Thamesmead, and as unlikely a setting for a play called Beautiful Thing as Buckingham Palace's gardens would be for Les Miserables.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=Evening Standard|date=24 November 1994|title=The council cries foul play|page=43|quote=Jonathan Harvey's West End hit Beautiful Thing is 'sickening' – that's official – as far as Bexley Borough Council is concerned. Harvey's play, about gay love is, of course, set in Thamesmead, part of which falls under the council's aegis. You might think fame for the borough would fill the breast of Bexley Tory councillor Graham R Holland, but no. The Duke of York's Theatre last week received a very severe letter from him on the council's headed paper. It criticises the billing of Harvey's gay love story as a comedy, and says the Holland family were 'intimidated' by gays in the bar and that they found 'the sight of older men with young lads was sickening, if legal'. He goes on to complain about the play's 'sordid' language: 'It was gratuitous, foul and offensive and was neither relevant nor, with my experience of Thamesmead ... in any way typical of the young people with whom I am in contact.' The shocked family group left after 20 minutes.}}</ref>

Jamie, a teen who is infatuated with his classmate, Steve, has to deal with his single mother Sandra, who is preoccupied with ambitious plans to run her own [[pub]] and with an ever-changing string of lovers, the latest of whom is Tony, a neo-[[hippie]]. Sandra finds herself at odds with Leah, a sassy and rude neighbour who has been expelled from school, does several drugs, and constantly listens and sings along to her mother's [[Cass Elliot]] records. While Jamie's [[homosexuality]] remains concealed, his introvert nature and dislike of football are reason enough for his classmates to bully him at every opportunity.

Ste, who is living together with his drug-dealing brother and abusive, alcoholic father in the flat next door, is one night beaten by his father so badly that Sandra takes pity and lets him sleep over. In the absence of a third bed, Ste has to make do with sleeping 'top-to-toe' with Jamie. On the second night they share a bed: after a massage and a minor conversation, the boys soon change sleeping arrangements and Jamie kisses Ste for the first time.

The next morning, Ste panics and leaves before Jamie awakens, avoiding him for days. Jamie works up the nerve to steal a ''[[Gay Times]]'' from a newsagent, apparently starting to accept his sexuality and affection for Ste. Jamie finally spots Ste at a nearby party and confronts him; they prepare to leave together. The party ends badly, with Sandra taking vengeance on Leah for gossiping, who then threatens to 'spill the beans' about Ste and Jamie and confesses to having covered up for Ste in front of his father and brother. Ste reacts poorly, angrily rejecting Jamie and running away.

Slowly, Ste accepts Jamie's love and their relationship begins to develop as they visit a [[Gay bar|gay pub]] together. Sandra follows them and discovers their secret, and the story reaches its climax as a [[bad trip]] by Leah (on an unnamed drug) precipitates Sandra's breakup with Tony; the news of Sandra's new job comes out; and Sandra confronts Ste and Jamie. Sandra comes to accept her son's relationship.

The play ends with the two boys slow-dancing in the courtyard of their council flats to the [[Cass Elliot]] song "[[Dream a Little Dream of Me (song)|Dream a Little Dream of Me]]", while a guarding Sandra dances defiantly at their side with Leah as the local residents look on; some of them shocked, some of them enjoying the moment themselves.

==Theatrical productions==
* '''28 July 1993''' (World premiere): [[Bush Theatre]], London, directed by [[Hettie MacDonald]]. It featured [[Patricia Kerrigan]], [[Mark Letheren]], [[Jonny Lee Miller]], [[Sophie Stanton]] and [[Philip Glenister]].<ref name=NYT>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/25/travel/europe-the-new-season-a-city-of-many-stages.html?pagewanted=4&src=pm | work=[[The New York Times]] | title=EUROPE: THE NEW SEASON; A City of Many Stages | authorlink= Benedict Nightingale|author=Nightingale, Benedict| date=25 September 1994}}</ref>
* '''29 March 1994''': [[West End theatre|West End]] at the [[Donmar Warehouse]] which ran until 23 April 1994,<ref>[http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/about/past-productions Donmarwarehouse.com]</ref> with [[Amelda Brown]], [[Mark Letheren]], [[Shaun Dingwall]], [[Sophie Stanton]] and [[Hugh Bonneville]]<ref>[http://instagram.com/p/rrNBJfpOdZ/ Instagram]</ref><ref>[http://willdowe.com/stc/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Beautiful_Thing_Education_Resource_Pack.pdf Willdowe.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.hughbonneville.uk/project/beautiful-thing Hughbonneville.uk]</ref>
* '''26 September 1994''': [[West End theatre|West End]] at the [[Duke of York's Theatre]], with [[Amelda Brown]], [[Zubin Varla]], [[Richard Dormer]], [[Diane Parish]] and [[Rhys Ifans]].<ref name=NYT/>
* '''February 1998''' (Australian premiere): Directed by [[Michael Darragh]] and produced by [[Make Believe Productions]] in Sydney. An official [[Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras]] festival event, the critically acclaimed independent production starred [[Simon Corfield]] (Jamie), [[Natalie Murray]] (Leah), [[Fiona Harris (actress)|Fiona Harris]] (Sandra), Andrew Wallace (Ste) and Charles Kevin (Tony).
* '''16 May 1998''' (American premiere): Produced by [[Famous Door Theater Company]] in Chicago, [[Illinois]].
* '''10 August 1998''': ([[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] premiere): [[Southbridge Resource Centre]], [[Edinburgh]], directed by [[Dan Hyde]]. Produced by [[The Absolute Banana Theatre Company]].
* '''14 February 1999''' (New York City premiere): [[Cherry Lane Theatre]] in New York, New York.
* '''13 May 1999''': Rotherham Arts Centre, directed by Darren Rhodes. Produced by [[Out of the Blue Theatre Company]].
* '''5 August 2002''': Southbridge Resource Centre, Edinburgh, directed by Dan Hyde. Produced by [[The About Turn Theatre Company]].
* '''21 August to 26 August 2002''': Marlborough Theatre, Brighton, directed by Dave Brinson. Produced by Grassy Knoll Theatre Company.
* '''November 2002''': Coliseum Theatre, Oldham, Greater Manchester
* '''April 2003''': [[Ball State University]] directed by AJ Wright, starring Nick Mitchell (Jamie), Katie Rae (Sandra), Matt Owens (Ste), Amy Hendrickson (Leah), and Ed Rice (Tony).
* '''November 2005''': [[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]] starring [[Jeremy Legat (actor)|Jeremy Legat]] (Jamie), Spencer Charles Noll (Ste), Kate Wood (Sandra), Gracy Goldman (Leah) and Adam Blake (Tony).
* '''January to March 2006''': [[Sound Theatre]] in London starring [[Andrew Garfield]], Gavin Brocker, Leo Bill, Sophie Stanton and Naomi Bentley.
* '''July to September 2006''': Sound Theatre in London starring [[Jonathan Bailey]], Gavin Brocker, [[Steven Meo]], Carli Norris and [[Michelle Terry]].
* '''September 2007''': [[South London Theatre]] This was the first performance by actors of the same age (and younger) as the characters they portrayed.  Directed by Elaine Heath, produced by Stuart Draper of Melmoth.  Starring David Clements as Jamie, Tom Bucher as Ste, Rita Goodhead as Leah, Fiona Cullen as Sandra and Chris Learmouth as Tony.
* '''31 October to 3 November 2007''': [[Drama Studio, University of Sheffield]] by [[SuTCo]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sutco.co.uk/ |title=Sutco.co.uk |access-date=2020-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526190818/http://sutco.co.uk/ |archive-date=2017-05-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''11 January 2008''' (German premiere): [http://www.jtbonn.com/ Junges Theater Bonn]. Notably this is a performance with actors being the same age as the characters they portray.
* '''February 2008''': [http://www.soulsticetheatre.org/ Soulstice Theatre] in [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], directed by Mark E. Schuster. The cast features Zach Kunde as Jamie, Chris Darnieder as Ste, Jillian Smith as Sandra, Amanda Carson as Leah, and Doug Giffin as Tony.
* '''1 May 2008''': Directed and acted by Fever theatre at [[Hemsworth Arts and Community College]]. The production features Kyle Crookes, (Jamie) Aaron Peace, (Tony) Joss Froggatt, (Ste) Stacey Young, (Leah) and Lauren Raynor (Sandra). The script has been cut to a thirty-minute runtime.
* '''26 June 2008''': Produced by EM-LOU PRODUCTIONS at the Battersea Arts Centre, Directed by Peter Darney, featuring Harry Bradshaw as Jamie, Niall Phillips as Ste, Anna Stolli as Sandra, Finn Hanlon as Tony, Louise Tyler as Leah.
* '''15 July 2008''': Produced by the Hillyer Theatre Company at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, directed by Jack Fayter, with Richard Loftus as Jamie, Joel Stubbs as Ste, Evelyne Beech as Sandra, Megan Travers as Leah and Steve Roberts as Tony.
* '''12 December 2008''': Produced and directed by Michael Darragh at Zhijiang Dream Factory, Shanghai, China. Featuring Joakim Eriksson (Jamie), Sophie Lloyd (Leah), Christy Shapiro (Sandra), Derek Kwan (Ste) and JP Lopez (Tony).
* '''9 January to 1 March 2009''' (Paris/[[French language]] premiere): Le Vingtième Théâtre, Paris. Directed by Kester Lovelace. A Drama Ties Production. Featuring Matila Malliarakis (Jaimie), Ivan Cori (Ste), Tadrina Hocking / Delphine Lacouque (Sandra), Simon Hubert (Tony) and Aude-Laurence Clermont (Leah). Translation : Pascal Crantelle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beautiful-thing.fr |title=''Beautiful Thing'': Paris 2009 (French language) |publisher=Mac.com |accessdate=May 17, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713173418/http://www.beautiful-thing.fr/ |archivedate=July 13, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''May 2009''' ([[Ghent|Gent]]/[[Dutch language]] premiere) Directed by Fabio Van Hoorebeke. Featuring Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze (Jonas), Bert Verbeke (Steve), Chadia Cambie (Sandra), Steve De Schepper (Tony) and Jolijn Antonissen (Leah).
* '''10 February to 20 February 2010''' (Alberta premiere): [[The Walterdale Playhouse|Walterdale Playhouse]], [[Edmonton]]. Directed by Justen Bennett. Featuring Doran Werner (Jamie), Maura Frunza (Leah), Amelia Duplessis (Sandra), Joel Taras (Ste), and Randy Brososky (Tony).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://walterdaleplayhouse.com/?page_id=9 |title=''Current Season - Walterdale Playhouse'': Edmonton 2009 |accessdate=December 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305235550/http://walterdaleplayhouse.com/?page_id=9 |archivedate=March 5, 2009 }}</ref>
* '''April 22–24, 2010''': [[Oberlin College]] in [[Oberlin, OH]], directed by Matthew Wright,<ref>[http://www.oberlin.edu/artsguide/theater-dance/beautiful.shtml Oberlin College Theater & Dance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316070538/http://www.oberlin.edu/artsguide/theater-dance/beautiful.shtml |date=2010-03-16 }}</ref> starring Linus Ignatius (Jamie), David Ohana (Ste), Hannah Finn (Sandra), Hallie Haas (Leah), and Andrew Gombas (Tony).<ref>[http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/theater_dance/season/mainstage/beautifulthing.dot Oberlin's Beautiful Thing] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527153713/http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/theater_dance/season/mainstage/beautifulthing.dot |date=2010-05-27 }}</ref>
* '''19 May to 2 June 2010''': Directed by Andrew Cuthbertson at Bath Spa University Theatre, [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], The Egg Theatre, [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], the [[Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre]] in [[Taunton]], the Tower in [[Winchester]] and [[The Drill Hall]] in [[London]]. Featuring Adam James Green as Jamie, Pete Peasey as Ste, Grace K. Miller as Sandra, Daniel Harland as Tony, and Aimee Farey as Leah.
* '''16–24 July 2010''': [[Tasmanian Premiere]] directed by Glenn Braithwaite, presented by the Old Nick Theatre Company at the Peacock Theatre in Hobart, Tasmania.
* '''9 November to 3 December 2011''': Directed by Sarah Frankcom at the Royal Exchange Theatre, [[Manchester]]. Featuring Matthew Tennyson as Jamie, Tommy Vine as Ste, Tara Hodge as Leah, Claire-Louise Cordwell as Sandra and Alex Price as Tony.
* '''9 February to 25 February 2012''': Directed by Stephen M. Raeburn at the Browncoat Pub and Theatre, [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]]. Featuring Kenny Rosander as Jamie, Ryan P. C. Trimble as Ste, Anna Gamel as Leah, Terrie Batson as Sandra, and Charles Auten as Tony. Regional premiere.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/events/230107517065489/#!/events/230107517065489/ Facebook]</ref>
* '''28 January to 29 January 2013''': Directed by Peter Hynds and produced by TS Theatre Productions in Swindon, UK; performed at The Arts Centre, Swindon.  This production starred Dominic Baker (Jamie), Josh Foyster (Ste), Sarah Lewis (Sandra), Ella Thomas (Leah), and Howard Trigg (Tony).<ref>[http://www.swindonweb.com/event/?m=40&c=11870&v=&em= Swindonweb.com]</ref>
* '''14 February to 2 March 2013''': Directed by [[Brandon Martignago]] and produced by [[Burley Theatre]] in Sydney as an official [[Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras]] festival event. This 20th anniversary production starred [[Michael Brindley]] (Jamie), [[Stephanie King]] (Leah), [[Amanda Stephans Lee]] (Sandra), [[Luke Willing]] (Ste) and [[Andrew Hearle]] (Tony).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.burleytheatre.com.au/#!beautiful-thing/c1toa |title=Burleytheatre.com |access-date=2012-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219031457/http://www.burleytheatre.com.au/#!beautiful-thing/c1toa |archive-date=2013-02-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''April to May 2013''' [[Arts Theatre]] in London's West End.
* '''30 April to 30 May 2013''': Directed by JP Quirk and produced by Jeannine Collins in Batavia, IL. USA. This 20th anniversary production starred Timothy Vogel (Jamie), [Kasia Karbarz (Leah), Erin Cauley (Sandra), Michael Sherry (Ste), Tony Pelligrino (Tony) and Jon Witt (Ronnie). Photos - [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.578063788900983.1073741828.111436155563751&type=3 Facebook]
* '''24 July to 26 July 2015''': Directed by [[Lawkin Law]], translated by 我要真翻譯 and produced by [[Theatrideo]] in Hong Kong, at the [[Hong Kong Cultural Centre]]. This production starred [[Koch Fung Koon Ho]] 馮小西 (Jamie), [[Joe Chan]] 陳祖 (Ste), [[Angle Kwok Lai Man]] 郭麗敏 (Sandra), [[Clara Ho Wing Yee]] 何潁怡 (Leah), and [[Romeo Wong Chun Kit]] 王俊傑 (Tony). Photos - [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153301888154861.1073741847.120238054860&type=3 Facebook]
* '''21 February 2017:''' Directed by Ryan Gooderham at [[Thurston Community College]], Beyton. Starring [[Matt Gibson|Matthew Gibson]] (Jamie), [[Charlie Stannard]] (Ste), [[Aisling Brooks]] (Sandra), [[Imogen Turnbow]] (Leah) and [[Daniel McKeown]] (Tony).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15825931_595671140643839_1033206112113631845_n.jpg?oh=0ec7a35d89c797e364f415235712bbd7&oe=5940B199|title=Poster: Beautiful Thing 2017|last=Gooderham|first=Ryan|date=20 February 2017|website=Facebook|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170223110719/https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15825931_595671140643839_1033206112113631845_n.jpg?oh=0ec7a35d89c797e364f415235712bbd7&oe=5940B199|archivedate=23 February 2017|url-status=dead|accessdate=23 February 2017}}</ref>
* '''1 June to 29 June 2018''': 25th anniversary production at [[Above The Stag Theatre]].
* '''3 July to 7 July 2018''': Open air, site-specific dance-theatre adaptation performed on the [[Thamesmead]] housing estate where the play is set and the 1996 [[Beautiful Thing (film)]] was shot. Co-Directed by Bradley Hemmings and Robby Graham and produced by Haitham Ridha as part of [[Greenwich+Docklands International Festival]] - [https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141630/https://festival.org/whats-on/beautiful-thing/ Beautiful Thing, 3-7 July 2018, Greenwich+Docklands International Festival]. 
*'''11 October to 27 October 2018''': In-house production by Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol. Directed by Mike Tweddle and starring Finn Hanlon as Tony, Amy-Leigh Hickman as Leah, Ted Reilly as Jamie, Phoebe Thomas as Sandra and Tristan Waterson as Ste.
*'''2 February to 6 March 2021''': Presented by New Theatre, Newtown, Sydney as part of the 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Directed by Mark Nagle and starring Caspar Hardaker, Julia Kennedy Scott, Will Manton, Bayley Prendergast, Hannah Zaslawski - https://newtheatre.org.au/beautiful-thing/
*'''6 May to 7 May 2022:''' Directed by Miguel Rosa and associate directed by Anoushka Medina, produced by [https://www.facebook.com/NuevaEscenaPR/ Nueva Escena PR] in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Starring Julián Gilormini as Jamie, Luis Obed Velázquez as Ste, Yamaris Latorre as Sandra, María Luisa "Mussa" Marín as Leah, and Hector Enrique Rodríguez as Tony.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Information about Show: COSAS HERMOSAS: Ticket Center |url=https://tcpr.com/es-PR/shows/cosas%20hermosas/events |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=tcpr.com |language=es-PR}}</ref>
*25 to 27 May 2023: Directed by Elinor Lower for Bristol School of Acting at [[Tobacco Factory Theatre]] Starring Dominic Delahaye as Jamie, Kieran Thomas as Ste, Olivia Zena Stronach as Sandra, Emily Clough as Leah and Harry Hudson as Tony. -https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/beautiful-thing-2/

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{wikiquote}}

{{John Whiting Award}}

[[Category:1993 plays]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related plays]]
[[Category:Comedy plays]]
[[Category:British plays adapted into films]]
[[Category:Plays set in London]]