Everything about Beautiful Thing totally explained
Beautiful Thing is a
play written and first performed in
1993 by
Jonathan Harvey. A screen production of the play was released in
1995 by
Channel 4 Films, with a revised
screenplay also by Harvey. Initially, the film was only intended for
television broadcast but it was so well-received that it was later released in
cinemas. The atmosphere of the film is heavily influenced by a soundtrack comprising almost entirely of the work of
Cass Elliot.
Plot
The story is set and filmed on
Thamesmead, a
working class area of South East
London dominated by
post-war council estates.
Jamie (
Glen Berry), a teen who is infatuated with his classmate, Ste (
Scott Neal), has to deal with his single mother Sandra (
Linda Henry), who is pre-occupied with ambitious plans to run her own
pub and with an ever-changing string of lovers, the latest of whom is Tony (
Ben Daniels), a neo-
hippie. Sandra finds herself at odds with Leah (
Tameka Empson), a sassy and rude neighbour girl 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 brother 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 develops as they visit a
gay pub together. Sandra follows them and discovers their secret, and the movie 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 tune of the Cass Elliot classic,
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
The film is based on Jonathan Harvey's original play script.
September 1994: The play opened in the West End at the Duke of York's Theatre, with Amelda Brown, Zubin Varla, Richard Dormer, Diane Parish and Rhys Ifans.
February 1998: The Australian premiere was directed by Michael Darragh and produced by Make Believe Productions in Sydney. A Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival event, the critically-acclaimed independent production starred Fiona Harris, Simon Corfield, Andrew Wallace, Natalie Murray and Charles Kevin.
16 May, 1998: The American premiere was produced by Famous Door Theater Company in Chicago, Illinois.
14 February 1999: New York premiere: Cherry Lane Theatre in New York, New York.
January-March 2006: A production of Beautiful Thing took place at the Sound Theatre in London starring Andrew Garfield, Gavin Brocker, Steven Meo, Carli Norris and Michelle Terry.
July-September 2006: A production of Beautiful Thing took place at the Sound Theatre in London starring Jonathan Bailey, Gavin Brocker, Steven Meo, Carli Norris and Michelle Terry.
September 2007: A production of Beautiful Thing took place at the South London Theatre.
October 31st - November 3rd 2007: A production of Beautiful Thing took place at the University of Sheffield Drama Studio by SuTCo. www.sutco.co.uk
11 January 2008: Beautiful Thing produced in the German language for the first time at the Junges Theater Bonn
. Notably this is the first performance with actors being the same age as the characters they portray.
February 2008: Beautiful Thing is staged by 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.
1st 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.
Upcoming Productions
9th January to 1st March 2009 : Paris Premiere. Beautiful Thing will be performed in French at Le Vingtième Théâtre, Paris. Directed by Kester Lovelace. [ADrama Ties] Production. Featuring Matila Malliarakis (Jaimie),Ivan Cori (Ste), Tadrina Hocking (Sandra), Simon Hubert (Tony)and Aude-Laurence Clermont (Leah). Translation : Pascal Crantelle. (External Link)
Further Information
Get more info on 'Beautiful Thing'.
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