Review: Safe Sex & On Tidy Endings at the Tristan Bates Theatre

Safe Sex and On Tidy Endings 
Tristan Bates Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 23rd April 2014

Two short plays by the Tony Award-winning Harvey Fierstein receive their UK premieres at the transformed Tristan Bates Theatre. The first play, Safe Sex, invites the audience into the bedroom of a couple whose relationship is under strain in the early part of the AIDS crisis. The second, and more interesting, play, On Tidy Endings, explores of odd connection shared between a gay man and a straight woman who meet to tie up loose ends following the death of the man they both loved.

The subject matter is a difficult one to deal with, but these plays certainly succeed to raise some extremely powerful points. Sometimes we see theatre for some light relief or escapism, but Fierstein's writing provides an incredibly valuable educational experience. Dan Philips directs two unapologetic pieces of theatre which certainly should have been staged in London sooner.

I didn't enjoy Safe Sex as I felt it could be so much more powerful. Both characters are are filled with so much anger and frustration making it challenging to really connect to either of them. The majority of the piece is spent at extremes, not enough time is spent building up the tension as too much time is taken releasing it. I didn't believe the characters history and couldn't believe they wanted to be in a relationship.

On Tidy Endings really is an extraordinary compelling piece of theatre, carried by the magnificent Deena Payne who gives a truly heartbreaking performance. Payne plays the ex-wife of a man who left her for another man and then passed away. Her performance was very real and it was nice to finally have a character to care for and understand.

It's great to see the Tristan Bates Theatre looking so spacious and I hope these important plays find their audience.

Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)

Safe Sex and On Tidy Endings run at the Tristan Bates Theatre until Saturday 17th May 2014.
Please visit www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk for further information and tickets.

Photo Credit: Jamie Scott-Smith

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