REVIEW: THE BOYS ARE KISSING by Zak Zarafshan at Theatre 503 digital stream March

‘A joyful piece of queer theatre. Every parent should see this’ ★★★★★

When two nine-year old boys share a kiss in the school playground, it’s a harmless act, an expression of joy and connection. But in this unnamed Northern town, it’s the equivalent of a butterflies’ beating wings setting off an earthquake. How the immediate parents and wider parenting enclave respond, creates tension among friends, potential relationships rifts and conflict in the cosy community. So far, so simple but Zac Zarafshan, a British-Iranian writer, from the East Midlands (and Theatre 503 alumnus) has more treats in store for the audience with his wickedly entertaining debut that manages to discuss gender, identity, tolerance and inclusion with wry observation, intelligence and wit.

From the stylish, contemporary set (we know straight off that how things look matter in this story), to the music, clever direction and compelling performances, there’s a wealth of talent in this production. Lesbian mums, Chloe and Amira (Samir’s parents) and their straight friends and neighbours, Sarah and Matt (Lucas’s parents) are all well-drawn characters that offer some great moments of comic timing. Through the sharp dialogue and witty repartee, we are drawn into their perspectives, quandaries and anxieties. Soft and kind Chloe, for instance hankers after a kitchen island and Volvo while her acerbic, kick-ass lawyer wife, Amira wants equality. Sarah wants to keep the peace with the other mums on WhatsApp while Matt just wants to understand how he can renegotiate his masculinity and best raise his son in a fast- changing world.

But the piece de resistance of this show are Analis and Clitoris (Shane Convery and Kishore Walker) two riotous cherubs who appear throughout the show, sequentially lifting the audience from the deepening domestic drama. Their mission is to guide the gays through life’s wilderness. Here, not only do they offer narrative context and inhabit the bodies of dead relatives or yoga apps, but facilitate key plot turns and allow characters to examine their deepest fears. Time becomes fluid in these moments as we zoom back and forth, with possible outcomes played out. It’s a brilliantly alluring device and recalls Clarence in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ or the ghosts in Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol’. Transposed into contemporary Britain via queer theatre, these two could honestly have their own spin-off cabaret show.

Although it’s a long production (2 hours 15 including an interval) the writing is sharp and well-paced and the performances so entertaining, time passes quickly. It probably could have been shorter but there is a great deal of laughter to move the action along. The riot of regional accents in this production from Geordie, Yorkshire and Northern Irish, are all music to the ear and map out this modern tale across borders and regions. Beyond the play’s political agenda, is a story that tests notions of unconditional love and is about listening to each other and to children. Probably a play every parent should see, it’s just the ticket to lift the spirits in these dreary January and early February evenings.

Read our interview with director Lisa Spirling here https://www.londonpubtheatres.com/interview-lisa-spirling-on-the-boys-are-kissing

Photography: Danny Kaan

Theatre503 present the World Premiere of

THE BOYS ARE KISSING

Written by Zak Zarafshan

Directed by Lisa Spirling

At Theatre503

17 January – 4 February 2023 SOLD OUT

DIGITAL STREAM AVAILABLE from 7 March 2023 (for one month)

BOOK HERE https://theatre503.com/whats-on/503live-the-boys-are-kissing/

Box office: www.theatre503.com / 020 7978 7040

Reviewed by Nilgin Yusuf

An experienced author, lecturer and journalist (ex-Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and ELLE) Nilgin is developing her first full-length stage play, supported by Mrs.C’s Collective and the Arts Council