There are good plays, there are great plays, and then there are those rare plays that make you laugh until your sides ache, break your heart and leave you thinking long after the final curtain call. A Tidy Boy, presented by Grand Ambition, is firmly in that final category.
Written by Peter Darney and directed by Christian Patterson, this powerful, poignant and frequently hilarious production tells the story of a group of passionate youth workers, each with their own flaws and struggles but united by a genuine desire to make a difference. Exploring themes of domestic abuse, sexuality, identity, community and the importance of empathy, A Tidy Boy refuses to shy away from life’s uncomfortable realities.
Patterson’s direction is assured and imaginative. The cleverly constructed set provides two distinct locations within one space, while the outskirts of the set becomes the streets connecting them. Effective lighting transforms these transitions, creating a fluidity that keeps the storytelling moving without unnecessary interruption.
The five-strong cast delivers an exceptional ensemble performance. Eiry Thomas is, as ever, a safe pair of hands, delivering an understated yet deeply affecting performance filled with warmth and humanity. Her character Sylvia’s reaction to learning of her father’s death over the telephone is among the production’s most moving moments; there is nothing exaggerated or theatrical about her grief, and its power lies in its devastating simplicity.
Geraint De Carvalho is impressive as Kai, a wannabe tough guy whose swagger and bravado conceal a multitude of secrets and vulnerabilities. Subjected to physical, emotional and, at times, sexual abuse by his female partner Kirsty, this is a reality often overlooked or dismissed, and the play confronts it with unflinching honesty.
De Carvahlo navigates the character’s mental and physical anguish with remarkable maturity, balancing explosive anger with heartbreaking fragility; beneath the aggression is a young man desperately struggling to find his place in the world. Kelsey Short faces perhaps the most thankless task as Kirsty: thoroughly unpleasant, manipulative and cruel, in tackling the role Short creates a genuinely unsettling presence.
Oliver Jacob Davies is perfectly cast as Geraint, the jittery, rule-obsessed youth worker struggling with his sexuality and sense of self. All nervous mannerisms, impeccable facial expressions and beautifully judged awkwardness, this generates some of the evening’s biggest laughs; his banana-and-condom demonstration has to be one of the most uncomfortably hilarious moments I’ve witnessed in a theatre. Yet beneath the comedy lies genuine tenderness, and Geraint’s conversation with Kai about accepting yourself, embracing uncertainty and understanding that it’s perfectly acceptable to be frightened is beautifully written and sensitively performed.
But the evening belongs to Lynn Hunter as Ann. Loud, brash and armed with a heart of gold, she’s a force of nature: everyone needs an Ann in their life. Hunter’s comedic timing effortlessly reduces the audience to tears of laughter, and having admired her TV performances in The Tuckers and more, seeing this icon of Welsh theatre command the stage was a joy.
This play is commendable for its refusal to present humanity in neat little boxes. People are complicated, imperfect and sometimes deeply damaged, yet compassion, understanding and community can offer hope even in the darkest circumstances. A Tidy Boy isn’t just outstanding – it’s tidy. Proper tidy.
A Tidy Boy, Grand Theatre, Swansea, Fri 16 Oct
On until Sat 24 Oct. Tickets: £20. Info: here
words DAFYDD LLYR
