By: Rosalind Sharman-Ward
There are shows that you watch, like and think about for a while, then there are the rarer shows that feel like a privilege to experience. Brenda Callis’s Smalltown Boy falls firmly into the latter category. It is skilfully written, exquisitely performed and movingly human.
Meet Edie, a popular drag queen back on the Bristol circuit after “taking a break”. As they chat to audience members it becomes clear that there is a little more to this break than is being said. Turns out someone is sitting in Leo’s favourite seat, another shares Leo’s taste in crisps. It becomes clear that Edie’s drag act, excellent though it is, hides a profound fragility beneath. Whilst we happily sing along to “Young Hearts Run Free” it seems Leo’s young heart has failed, catastrophically, leaving a shocked Edie grieving their partner.
Amidst this turmoil Edie, aka Harry, receives a call from someone called Stephen who explains that he found their number in Leo’s phone as next of kin. Could they come to Leo’s hometown in deepest Cornwall to help Hannah? Confused and in need of answers, Edie defiantly dons their armour of full drag and heads southwest to confront Leo’s past.
At this point I should point out that this show is extremely funny, often delightfully outrageously so. The interaction between Edie with Leo’s family and friends at the surprise arrival of a full-blown drag queen is just brilliant. Doing their best to be polite to someone who has made the effort to visit whilst unsure of protocol causes much hilarity. As for the microphones…
All the cast are amazing, Shiquerra Robertson Harris as Hannah, hurting and fed up, uncomfortable, decent Stephen, Theo Cowan, and Claire, Kate Milner-Evans, who doesn’t know how to let her son go are made so relatable. Each character is portrayed with such empathy that we feel we know them well. We are fully engaged and invested in their lives.
For me Elliott Ditton as Edie shines and I would be more than happy to see them on stage again either in drag or in another play. They play Edie with the deftest touch. Their timing is impeccable and their ability to portray huge emotions with a glance or gesture is sheer perfection. Beneath Edie’s brittle armour we are shown a lonely, isolated, loving person who has become lost. The final scenes reduced me to tears. Luckily there is always bonkers dancing to 70s hits to make us all laugh again.
This uplifting production gently challenges its audience to look closer at the issues it raises, to see past stereotypical thoughts and cliché responses to the person. It is a beautiful, brave show and I am so glad I saw it. I strongly recommend it to anyone over 14 who doesn’t mind a bit of heartbreak amongst the joy.