Review: Walk Like A Man At Gosforth Civic Theatre
Walk Like a Man
Gosforth Civic Theatre
28th August 2024
Review by Stephen Stokoe, Photo Credit: Stephen Carr
A new venue for me this evening and what a lovely place it is too. Gosforth Civic Theatre is lust off the high street and offers a very pleasant cafe and bar area with welcoming staff and a good selection of food and drink before you enter the auditorium.
Tonight, I was invited to watch Walk Like a Man performed by the cast of Black Star Maniacs. I had no idea what to expect from this play but the pre-set suggested a local pub so I was quite within my comfort zone.
The play is narrated by the landlord of The Queens Arms who introduces us to the characters as they took to the stage. First we welcomed matriarch Michelle (Heather Dowey) who was chatting away to her good friend, Sue (Lynn Huntley).
The story revolves around Michelle’s son, Jack (Luke David Martin) who aside from working with his dad, Mick (Steve Lowes) in the family plumbing business, has secret desires to don a frock and boobs as a drag act. There are echoes of Billy Elliot and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie to the storyline in a narrative around a boy wanting to follow his dreams against the expected path of someone born into a no nonsense Northern family.
Around the female role models in Jack’s life is a no nonsense brother, Michael (Craig Pearson), their Dad, Mick (Steve Lowes), Sunderland supporter (Colin Coombes) all who epitomise the Northern stereotypes of rough lads who work hard and earn their right to have a good night out after the match in the local boozer.
The exception to the rule is Derek (John Torrence), to whom Jack has a close bond and who has secrets of his own from a life well lived.
Derek’s secrets and his mentorship of the emerging Jack, form the basis of a story of discovery, acceptance and understanding which warms hearts of the audience by the play’s conclusion.
Luke David Martin plays a sensitive but definitely Geordie lad with great ease and he effortlessly embodies the nature of the confused Jack. His relationships with his brother, mother and father feel genuine and there is a lovely understated story arch between Jack and his ‘Auntie’ Sue which is delightfully resolved within the narrative but without feeling forced or laboured.
Heather Dowey is controlled and very recognisable as the long suffering wife of Mick and mother of two boys. There may have been the temptation to frame the father as a distant and uncaring figure, but while Steve Lowes’ portrayal shows a man lacking in any real understanding of the people around him, the character feels real and without the stereotype that the audience may expect. This is to the credit of playwright.
There are a couple of issues I have with this production from a technical point of view. The first act is very long indeed and saw several audience members take a comfort break. One of the reasons for this, is down to the scene changes. I would suggest that Ray’s observations and narration take place while the scene changes are happening so as not to break the audience’s concentration.
Walk Like a Man by SJ Lowes offers a modern insight into working class northern life with some laugh out loud moments. There is some strong and insensitive language in places but it is very in-keeping with the characters and, as such, does not make the audience feel uncomfortable.
Walk Like a Man runs at Gosforth Civic Theatre until Friday 30thAugust and tickets are available from the box office and online.