Walterdale Playhouse brings you into Jonathan Harvey’s tale of two boys, who, in the middle of the dreary, bleak setting of a London council estate, discover sparks of life and love, with Beautiful Thing. Enveloped in a simple, beautiful story about a myriad of relationships – family, romance and friendship, we meet Jamie and Ste who discover the different levels of love and trust.

Jamie has a crush on classmate Ste. When Ste is beaten by his brother so badly, he stays over with Jamie and his mother Sandra. In the absence of a third bed, Jamie and Ste begin their journey sleeping top-to-toe. Meanwhile Ste’s mother, Sandra, begins a tenuous journey with a troublesome neighbour, Leah.

“For me, Beautiful Thing is about love; a realistic love,” says Justen Bennett, Director of Beautiful Thing. “Those simple, small loves that you have. This is a story set against a harsh, urban background with working class characters that are proud, stubborn, and not always nice to one another. The love in this play doesn’t inspire a dramatic change, but brings a small spark of life and hope to people who don’t always have a lot of hope. Beautiful Thing reminds us, even in the harshest of surroundings, how simple, pure, and tender love can be.”

Justen Bennett is an emerging local director, actor, and sometime playwright. Most recently, he wrote and directed Addition: An Unconventional Love Story at the 2009 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival.

Dates: February 10–20, 2010 (No performance Monday, Feburary 15)

Times: 8:00pm (2:00pm matinee on Sunday, February 14)

Tickets: $12–$16

Available to purcahse in-person @ TIX on the Square, by phone @ 780.420.1757, or online @ www.tixonthesquare.ca.

Tickets can also be purchased at the door (cash only) one hour prior to each performance.

Group rates are available.

Jamie – Doran Werner

Leah – Maura Frunza

Sandra – Amelia Duplessis

Ste – Joel Taras

Tony – Randy Brososky

Voice of Ronnie – Alan McAnn

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*This production marks the first time Beautiful Thing has been performed in Alberta

*The play was also turned into a movie and the film version took second place on AfterElton.com’s 2008 poll of the Fifty Greatest Gay Movies (http://www.afterelton.com/movies/2008/9/50greatestgaymovies)

Walterdale Theatre Associates official website: http://www.walterdaleplayhouse.com