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Jonathan Harvey
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Beautiful Thing - Acting Edition Paperback – January 1, 2000

by Jonathan Harvey (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 8 ratings
See all formats and editions
parts for 3 men and 2 women. Jamie and Ste (short for Steve) are teenage neighbors in a working-class housing project in London. Jamie is bookish and shy while Ste is more athletic. Neither one has an ideal home Jamie's mother Sandra is bitter over her financial situation and her romantic life, but she's willing to settle for a bloke named Tony and cover up her disappointment with scathing humor; Ste's father and brother abuse him in the form of escalating domestic squabbles and actual beatings. After one such fight, Ste asks Sandra if he can stay at her house and she lets him and Jamie bunk together. As their friendship grows, Jamie begins to realize he has stronger feelings for Ste, and one night, after Ste suffers a particularly bad beating, the two boys decide to experiment together. Both realizing they're gay, Ste and Jamie begin a tentative relationship. Soon, Sandra hears the rumor that her son's gay, and knowing that he's been having trouble in school, she confronts him and he admits the truth. Ste and Jamie's friend, Leah, is also in on the secret and she's supportive of them, probably because of her own outsider status as a Mama Cass worshipper. The play ends with the two boys feeling less alone in the world than before; they have each other, and even the bickering Sandra and Leah call a truce and accompany the boys in a slow dance for all their neighbors to see.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    72 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.25 x 7.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0822217171
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0822217176
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dramatists Play Service, Inc. (January 1, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 72 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0822217171
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0822217176
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.25 x 7.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 8 ratings

About the author

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Jonathan Harvey

Jonathan Harvey

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
8 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

DupontDC
5.0 out of 5 stars Teachers: add this to your drama unit
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
Outstanding story. I am a high school English teacher, and I ordered this to use as a key text for my drama unit. It appropriate and has so much value to teach teens about diversity and love.
One person found this helpful
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Tony Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful...what an understatment
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2000
I've just ordered this book off of Amazon. I have read some brilliant reveiws on it and I got everythign I hoped for. I cried, I laughed and made a complete fool of myself infront of everyone. I now have all my mates queing to read it. I have never read a book so wonderful and it should be made available everywhere, not just via the internet. It's also very easy for me, as it is set where i am living at the moment so the language is easily understood. I recomend this book to everyone who needs comforitng at any time or for anyone who just likes to smile.
I was also hoping to veiw the film, but I cannot get hold of a copy so if anyone reading this review wouldn't mind lending me a copy I would be very grateful....
7 people found this helpful
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ebales@nmu.edu
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a Beautiful Thing...
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 1998
I saw the show in Chicago and it was brilliant! The story is so honest and heart-felt. Harvey did a magnificent job of not turning the show into a cliched "gay" play.
4 people found this helpful
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