Humour is a funny thing and while I have a reputation for not doing comedy, many things amuse me and some even make me laugh out loud. Ortonesque black comedy is at the top of my list along with anything that uses quick-fire wit and repartee. That probably explains why I chortled my way through He’s Not Gay, He’s Just My Brother! starting with the ridiculous non sequitur in the title that still makes me chuckle.
A fabulous 75 mins of captivating tragedy and comedy, of pathos and passion
This triumphant production from Not so Nice! Theatre Company founded in 2020 by Matthew Attwood and Grace Baker is the work of a tightly knit team. Playwright Ryan Lithgow’s two-hander features the gay Peter (Will Evans) and his not gay brother Ross (Michael Tominey). The circumstances behind that distinction are explained in the play. Both characters are vividly drawn, with an endearing humanity that makes you want to become their friends and participate in all the abundance of brotherly frolics that litter the show.
Evans and Tominey play off each other so well that they might easily be brothers in real life. They certainly give the impression of having performed together for a long time and yet that is also not the case; they had never met till casting and rehearsals. They contrast and complement each other perfectly. The fluidity and the inherent demands of pace found in Lithgow’s script are gold in their hands. Their timing is spot on, using changes of tempo and pauses to maximum effect. Frantic exchanges are contrasted with calm reflection and Eleanor Tate, making her outstanding directorial debut, has imaginatively used the confines of this Dundee Fringe venue to heighten the intimacy of the action in scenes that demand focussed conversation and space to explore movement opportunities in the more riotous scenes.
The plot is a delightful ‘when things go wrong’ story. Peter is preparing for what he believes will be the happiest day of his life. He’s to marry his boyfriend, but a clap of thunder announces a torrential storm outside linked to the distant presence of the dreaded mother-in-law; a wicked witch undeterred by water. Her recurring presence at the other end of the phone create some of the most hilarious exchanges in the play. Combined with her, the surprise arrival of his estranged brother, who wishes to add his two penn'orth to the fray, escalates Peter’s stress to the stratosphere.
And that’s it; a fabulous 75 mins of captivating tragedy and comedy, of pathos and passion. But not quite. About two-thirds of the way through when we are settled into the rhythm of the action, Lithgow throws us a massive curveball; a moment of shock horror that takes our breath away and turns it into a tear-jerker.
He’s Not Gay, He’s Just MyBrother! is an enthralling exploration of bonds and relationships, of discovering what brings us together rather than separates us and of learning that the things we have in common are stronger that anything that might divide us. It's also a reminder that you should never be afraid to say who you are or how you feel, because one day it might be too late.
