lenny. Review

Alfie Webster is lenny in this gut-punching debut.

It's very easy for theatre, particularly Queer Theatre, to fall into 'woe is me' trope. Alfie Webster's debut play lenny. is a ‘delayed’ queer coming-of-age story that avoids this trope with the power and avoidance of a gay man dodging his 30's. lenny. is 70 minute piece that will move you from laughter to tears, and have you understanding a little more about yourself than you did when you walked in.

As the end of his 20's looms, 'lenny is tired of being on the sidelines of his own life' and, with the persuasion from a life-long friend, and a talking banana or two, decides it's time to change that. The play explores the delayed adolescence of some queer men, and 'asks if it’s ever too late to discover your authentic self', while raising questions of self-worth and identity within communities that can struggle to offer affirmation. It resoundly and poignantly asks, "are you the person you want to be, or are you the person you’ve been told you are?"

Webster's portrayal of lenny is honest and captivating in a way that it's easy to forget he himself is not lenny. His characterisation is both gut-wrenching and hilarious, capturing the reality of queer men who don’t fit the polished ideal. His comedic timing, physicality and often caricatured performance balance the high-emotions of this monologue beautifully. But it's actually Webster's writing that will really transport you into lenny's world. Every word, every syllable feels so cleverly chosen to have the wit of a Victoria Wood with the grounding of an Alan Bennett.

Sarah Stacey's direction works hand-in-hand with Webster's quick paced script and Mim Houghton's clever set design in a feat of collaboration. She utilises the space well and balances the pacing with accurate precision, allowing the audience to become absorbed into lenny's world.

The lighting design by Gabriel Finn, along with Raffaela Pancucci's sound design, can sometimes be inspired and sometimes leave you wanting just a little more. Clever uses of colour, partcularly inside the white box of lenny's projection-room-cum-psyche, were often muddled by cues that felt at times overwhelming and at times lacking. Likewise, composer Pancucci's sound design would often strum the chord of our emotional heartstring, before falling victim to cliche or somewhat unnecessary repetition.

In all, lenny. is a coming-of-age story for those of us who feel we never had that experience. Webster's script is funny, real and daringly authentic, and will keep you avoiding bananas for the foreseeable.

lenny. is currently playing at the Omnibus Theatre until the 4th October. Tickets and more information can be found here.

Note: this performance was viewed during previews and may therefore not fully and accurately reflect the current production.