Southwark Playhouse – until 23 September 2023
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
Third time’s a charm for Robert Holtom’s delightful coming of age comedy. After runs at VAULT Festival and The Pleasance, Southwark Playhouse’s The Little is the latest stage for this magical play.
Life for Harry Potter fan Jack (Alex Britt) is becoming complicated. The fact that he has been sorted into Hufflepuff is not the only thing he is hiding – his growing attraction to best friend Ollie (Martin Sarreal) must be kept secret in school where the worst insult flung around is “Gay”. As Jack navigates his way tentatively through school, keeping safely in the closet, his relationships with best friends Gemma (Charlotte Dowding) and Ollie change, with tragic results. Unable to accept that this is how life should be, Jack uses his own time turner to relive his teen years and change his and his friends’ life for the better, determined that he and Ollie must be together.
Steeped in nineties and noughties nostalgia (remember when JK was unproblematic?), a basic knowledge of Potterlore helps, but Ollie’s sardonic criticisms and questions clear up any vital facts. Jack gets to relive these years with more positive results, but life is still not perfect, so another do-over is tried. Jack’s kind and romantic heart could lead to this becoming the world’s longest play as he wants to do more to give everyone the life he thinks they deserve, but his friends step in to remind him that life isn’t perfect, and they will face the struggles and joys to come together. Holtom doesn’t shy away from the truth that life is not rosy now, with a joke highlighting the change in JK as well as characters acknowledging that the views and actions of some within the LGBTQ+ community are as just as damaging and dangerous. But this doesn’t dampen the effervescent and overwhelming joy the show creates – a truly glorious production.
Holtom’s writing is sparky and emotive, with the pain of hiding your true self from parents who won’t even watch Graham Norton on TV laid bare. The cruelty and ignorance at school is also shown brilliantly in a jokey, but nevertheless hard-hitting way. As each version of Jack’s life plays out and he becomes bolder about revealing his sexuality, he finds surprising allies, and the journey to understanding and acceptance we see his parents take is simply gorgeous. Roast potatoes have never meant so much. The running joke of mum investing so much in plot holes in EastEnders is played beautifully.
Tom Wright’s direction is crisp and feels intuitive, with movement director Rachael Nanyonjo’s skills creating multiple layers and magical moments. Natalie Johnson’s astrological/horological set design is evocative and enchanting, especially in conjunction with Rory Beaton’s lighting and Peter Wilson’s sound design. Alex Britt is brilliant as Jack – naive and full of wonder at the new world he finds in London, portraying his conflicted emotions as he finds his way, and creating a wonderfully frustrating but lovable character. Charlotte Dowding is hilarious in her many roles – especially as food-pushing mum and the fierce French teacher, while Martin Sarreal impresses as Ollie – quietly capturing the fear beneath the bravado – and is a hoot as Jack’s Heavenly hookups.
Joyful, hopeful and full of heart, Dumbledore Is So Gay is a real charmer. Get yourself a ticket before they disappear.