The Australian playwright Tommy Murphy's STRANGERS IN BETWEEN had its British premiere this summer at The King's Head Theatre. Directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher, the artistic director of the venue. STRANGERS IN BETWEEN is a beautifully written coming of age play which examines the issues of sexuality in both a funny and moving way.Shane is young and innocent. After running away from home he finds himself completely alienated and hopeless in downtown Sydney where life couldn't be any more different to the one he has lead in rural Australia. Struggling with his sexuality, desperate for a companion, lover or a friend Shaun soon befriends an older gay man Peter (Stephen Connery- Brown) and embarks on a sexual relationship with Will (Dan Hunter). As the story moves forward so does our understanding of Shane's past and the burden he carries, and so it becomes obvious that the young boy needs to, sooner rather than later; face his past.
Spreadbury-Maher directs his actors in a naturalistic way without relying on stereotypes. The character of Peter, portrayed by brilliant Stephen Connery-Brown is one that evokes not only laughter but also plenty of empathy and like Shaun he is also struggling with loneliness. Dan Hunter also delivers a great performance showing his versatility by playing the attractive Will and the homophobic, masculine Ben – Shaun's brother. It is hard to believe that STRANGERS IN BETWEEN is Roly Botha's professional stage début, for Botha is simply incredible and by using his youth and vulnerability makes Shaun a multidimensional and humane character.
Tommy Murphy, like his fellow Aussie playwrights Andrew Bovell and Brendan Cowell, possess a gift for examining Australian society and its ugliness without scrutinising it. His writing shifts from naturalistic to poetic, the tempo of the piece being fast, leaving the audience on the edge of the seat. Although one could think that the cultural and societal references might leave British audiences slightly alienated from Murphy's world, yet this is not the case.
STRANGERS IN BETWEEN is a captivating production and a reminder that by no means should we ever underestimate the innocent and young on their quest for finding themselves and that perhaps “the kindness of strangers” is something that we all, at some point in our lives need. An absolute must see of this summer.
I first encountered the work of Claudio Macor about twenty years ago when I directed his play VENETIAN HEAT. In this he told a story of gay love and oppression set in the Italian countryside of his grandparents, during the second world war.