3 Unusual plays for your group outings

FAYGELE**** at the small Marylebone Theatre, London (until 31 May) looks at first glance as though it will appeal only to those familiar with the Jewish religion. But in fact it is relevant to anyone who wants to know more about a generally unrepresented minority group. At the beginning Ari (Ilan Galkoff) speaks directly to the audience telling us about his suicide. We then witness what led to the teenager taking his own life. On his barmitzvah day, his father accuses, Harry of being a ‘faygele’ – a person who is gay. It’s a shocking thing to say, especially for this deeply religious Jewish family. It virtually destroys Ari and affects his mother, (Ciara Francis, who has enough to cope with looking after her 11 children. She is torn between what she sees as her duty to her husband and her great love for her son.

Photo: Jane Hobson

Writer Shimmy Braun has used his own experiences for his debut play. He was a religious Jew married with four children, who came out as gay. The writer’s strong emotions come out in the play and are demonstrated by a sympathetic rabbi., played by Andrew Paul and Ari’s older gay friend, Sammy (Yiftach Mizrahi). Ben Kaplan is excellent in the role of Ari’s father who can’t accept his son. In the audience, both Jewish and non-Jewish were able to empathise with Ari’s situation and some had experienced similar family attitudes.

Audiences at Hampstead Theatre like thoughtful plays and HOUSE OF GAMES*****  by Richard Bean (until 7 June), based on the screenplay by David Mamet, fills that space more than adequately. It’s thrilling to watch and, although sometimes difficult to figure out exactly who is doing what to whom, the series of cons that we see are always intriguing. Margaret is a psychoanalyst and also a successful author. She is treating Billy (Oscar Lloyd), a compulsive gambler, who says he owes big money. Deciding to see for herself, Margaret visits the House of Games, which is an underworld club in Chicago. She gets involved with Mike (Richard Harrington) and his group of gamblers. A number of plot twist lead to an exciting finish. Some super acting from all the cast has the audience sitting on the edge of their seats.

Photo: Manuela Harlan

The set is amazing with the upper half of the stage depicting Margaret’s office and the lower half the gambling den. If you enjoy a thrilling theatrical event with outstanding performances by the well directed cast – director Jonathan Kent – don’t miss this Hampstead Theatre production.

And a very different version of Shakespeare’s, ROMEO AND JULIET is an offer at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London (until 2 August). All the elements of the well-known play are here: so we have the young couple falling in love at their first meeting; the realisation that their families are enemies; their secret wedding; the killing of two main characters; Romeo’s flight and the disaster of Juliet faking death and Romeo not knowing that she is still alive when he comes to her tomb. But it is the setting and presentation of the play, which is so different here. The set becomes the Wild West. At the back are the doors to the saloon and in front, the actors are dressed as Cowboys in cowboy hats and big boots. They draw their guns and knives and perform merry two steps to a background of country music played by a lively band. Sean Holmes directs with enthusiasm for this new world.

photo: Tristram Kenton

The lovers are young and work well together. Rawaed Asde who plays Romeo is one to watch while Lola Shalam makes a cute Juliet with a contemporary London accent. There is a stand out performance by Jamie-Rose Monk, who brings the laughs to what is essentially a tragedy. This is one of London’s best outdoor theatres and well worth a visit, particularly on a balmy sunny evening.

Written CARLIE NEWMAN