Theatre Preview: Fierstein’s ‘On Tidy Endings’, ‘Safe Sex’
By Will Stroude
We’re more than a little excited about the UK premiere of two short plays from the Tony Award-winning Harvey Fierstein at London’s Tristan Bates Theatre next month. As well as writing the book for La Cage aux Folles, you might know the gravel-voiced playwright and actor from appearances in films like Mrs Doubtfire and Independence Day.
On Tiny Endings and Safe Sex are two of Fierstein’s funniest and most poignant plays – both written at a time when he and the rest of the world were coming to terms with the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS crisis. On Tiny Endings tells the story of a gay man and a straight woman who come together following the death of a man they both loved from AIDS-related complications. Safe Sex explores a relationship under strain in the early part of the AIDS crisis and the effects of fear and desire.
Director Dan Philips has said that “what makes this different from all the other ‘AIDS plays’ is that it is not in fact about AIDS. Both plays instead look at who it leaves behind and is, at its heart, a play about dealing with loss whether you are gay or straight.”
Running for four weeks from April 22, the cast includes Deena Payne (Viv Windsor in Emmerdale) and CJ de Mooi (Eggheads), and is an amazing opportunity to catch these seminal gay plays in the UK for the first time ever.
The production will benefit the Make a Difference Trust. The MAD Trust raises funds from British entertainment to support people living with HIV and AIDS, and those in the entertainment industry facing hardship as a result of any long-term medical condition.
Tickets are available from www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk and on 020 7240 6283.