DON'T be put off by the in-ya-face title, this is a witty, funny and touching story of how romance blossoms between two gay men who meet in an internet chat-room. So OK, it's more sex than romance that they – or at least one of them – seems to be loo
king for, but despite the graphic language and truly hilarious sex sequences, this is essentially a good old-fashioned love story.
Butt Boy and Tigger (real names, Jamie and Matt) meet in an online chatroom. Jamie has ended up with his unfortunate pseudonym due to a lack of available options and Matt is initially frustrated with him for his naïvety when it comes to the nitty-gritty of living out sexual fantasies via the web. Matt initially comes across as the more experienced of the two, but Jamie is encouraged by him to express his innermost desires and what follows is a series of delightfully filthy, and very funny, sexual liaisons, lived out through the characters' imaginations – think of every porn movie stereotype: stable boys, shower scenes and Dave the sheep.
Australian company Out Cast Theatre specialise in producing theatre that has a gay and transgender emphasis, while Steven Dawson is a writer with a talent for sleek and snappy dialogue that performers Felix Allsop and Angus Brown embrace with versatility.
There really are some very funny scenes, although some of the audience seem intent on drowning these out through raucous laughter that feels somewhat contrived.
While there is a danger that Matt and Jamie's weekly online meetings will become repetitive, the simple story of Jamie falling in love and Matt being scared of commitment moves things along. And if this story feels a little clichéd and reminiscent of a Julia Roberts rom-com with homosexuality, then it's nicely subverted at the end when Matt and Jamie meet and real life becomes its own fantasy adventure.
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The full article contains 342 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
