• Review For Us
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Last Minute
    • Cinema
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
    • Attractions
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Last Minute
    • Cinema
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
    • Attractions
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews

Review: Gently Down The Stream at The Park Theatre

Amalia Felicijan by Amalia Felicijan
February 18, 2019
Reading Time: 3min read
Gently Down The Stream Review Ben Allen Rufus Jonathan Hyde Beau c. Marc Brenner

Gently Down The Stream Review Ben Allen Rufus Jonathan Hyde Beau c. Marc Brenner

Currently taking over the stage in Park Theatre, Gently Down The Stream gives exactly what the title promises. It takes you, tenderly on a journey filled with laughter, empathy, and tears. Written by Martin Sherman and directed by Sean Mathias, both Oliver and Tony-nominated artists, one can expect high-quality play even before witnessing it come to life on the stage.

The year is 2001, in London. A gay dating app brings together Rufus, a young and eccentric lawyer who adores the past and sees it in a romantic light, full of buzz, and Beau, an older cocktail bar pianist who lived through those “romantic” times and knows, they were everything but that. What starts as a one night stand, quickly turns into a relationship. Rufus and Beau, brought up in two different eras, perceive the idea of love differently. Beau, certain and assured that all the things related to love come to a dead-end, and Rufus who just shines with joie de vivre, and doesn’t care about a thing, he just wants to be blessed with the stories of Beau’s past. Their relationship undergoes many phases, from Rufus wanting to get married, to Beau, persuading him to see other people, the story develops into something unexpected and beautiful, but saying anything more would give away its best part of the story.

Throughout the play, the actors deliver astounding performances, making the energy created on the stage highly contagious. One might be surprised only three actors are able to create such a magnetic atmosphere, putting the audience at the tip of our toes yet making us feel as if we were guests in their living room, where the play is set. Each actor colours Gently Down the Stream with a unique tone. Ben Allen in the role of Rufus brings in the buzzing energy, Harry Lawtey as Harry occupies the stage with his cynical remarks and confidence, while Jonathan Hyde as Beau balances everything with his calmness and wisdom.

The staging is an intimate ambiance, and forces the viewer to fully commit to the events unfolding on stage. What also helps to set the atmosphere of the play, is the lighting which helps us recognise the time and place, separating Beau’s heart touching monologues from an otherwise bubbly and staccato flow of Gently Down the Stream.

The whole play succeeded in drawing an exquisite picture of, to me recently, unknown times. It is a delightful comedy that carries brutal tragedies, life learned lessons, some easier to relate to and others filled with pain. All the elements of Gently Down The Stream seem to complement one another, bringing the script to life in the most enjoyable way, and providing us with an extraordinary piece of theatre.

You mightalso like

Maureen Lipman in Rose

Rose Starring Maureen Lipman to Be Screened on Sky Arts

When Darkness Falls

New Ghost Thriller When darkness Falls to Open at Park Theatre

 

1 of 6
- +
Jonathan Hyde Beau. pic by Marc Brenner
Ben Allen Rufus Jonathan Hyde Beau. photo by Marc Brenner
Harry Lawtey Harry. by Marc Brenner Copy
Jonathan Hyde Beau and Ben Allen Rufus. by Marc Brenner
Jonathan Hyde Beau Ben Allen Rufus. pic by Marc Brenner
Harry Lawtey Harry. pic by Marc Brenner
ADVERTISEMENT

1. Jonathan Hyde Beau. pic by Marc Brenner

Jonathan Hyde Beau. pic by Marc Brenner

2. Ben Allen Rufus Jonathan Hyde Beau. photo by Marc Brenner

Ben Allen Rufus Jonathan Hyde Beau. photo by Marc Brenner

3. Harry Lawtey Harry. by Marc Brenner Copy

Harry Lawtey Harry. by Marc Brenner Copy

4. Jonathan Hyde Beau and Ben Allen Rufus. by Marc Brenner

Jonathan Hyde Beau and Ben Allen Rufus. by Marc Brenner

5. Jonathan Hyde Beau Ben Allen Rufus. pic by Marc Brenner

Jonathan Hyde Beau Ben Allen Rufus. pic by Marc Brenner

6. Harry Lawtey Harry. pic by Marc Brenner

Harry Lawtey Harry. pic by Marc Brenner

Summary
Reviewer
Amalia Felicijan
Review Date
2019-02-18
Reviewed Item
Gently Down The Stream at The Park Theatre
Author Rating
51star1star1star1star1star
Amalia Felicijan

Amalia Felicijan

Related Articles

Maureen Lipman in Rose
Digital

Rose Starring Maureen Lipman to Be Screened on Sky Arts

When Darkness Falls
News

New Ghost Thriller When darkness Falls to Open at Park Theatre

Corpse will reopen The Park Theatre
News

Park Theatre To Reopen In January With Programme Of Socially Distanced Shows & Masterclasses

Maureen Lipman in Rose
News

Online Stream of Rose Starring Maureen Lipman Returns

Maureen Lipman in Rose
News

Hope Mill Theatre’s Digital Revival of Rose Starring Maureen Lipman to Extend by Two Weeks

Maureen Lipman in Rose
Reviews

Review: Rose Starring Maureen Lipman from Hope Mill Theatre

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Follow Us

  • The Pop-Up Palladium has announced a brand-new line-up for their live zoom show on Friday 5th February 2021 @popuppalladium #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #hughpurves #louisegold #mavismayes #nodatthefox #oliversmart #thepopuppalladium
  • Landmark Productions, one of Ireland’s leading theatre producers, is set to live stream its acclaimed production of The Approach, written and directed by Mark O’Rowe, via TicketCo this week @landmarkireland #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #landmarkproductions #markorowe #theapproach #ticketco
  • Immersive game producer Michelle Hudson embarks on her first solo performance piece in Manimals, an exploration of dating, loneliness, and the struggle to connect in the digital age @manimalsplay #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #firehazardgames #manimals #michellehudson
  • #Review: Twenties at Online@theSpaceUK #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #charlotteannetilley #fionatownsley #harrymcmullen #jessparsons #thespace #twenties #zoebirkbeck
  • #Review: Public Domain at Southwark Playhouse (Online) @southwarkplayhouse #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #adamlenson #francescaforristal #jordanpaulclarke #publicdomain #southwarkplayhouse
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, Kemp House, 152 - 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Broken Link Review c. Harpy Productions

Review: Broken Link at Living Record Festival (Online)

Oliver Smart Pop Up Palladium

The Pop-Up Palladium Announces New Line-Up For Friday 5th February 2021

© 2020 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Contact Us

© 2020 Theatre Weekly

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Cookie Policy.