Beautiful Thing

Even if you’ve seen the excellent 1996 movie adaptation, you should check out this staging of Jonathan Harvey’s 1993 play, which has finally made it to New York after a run in Chicago. The touching story involves two teenage boys’ coming-out in a London housing project, and five terrific actors bring it to convincing life. Standouts are Matt Stinton as sensitive but sarcastic Jamie — who pines for his abused neighbor, Ste (Daniel Eric Gold) — and Kirsten Sahs as Jamie’s hard-edged yet sympathetic mom. Adding comic relief is Susan Bennett’s Mama Cass-loving Leah. As in the film, Cass Elliot songs contribute to Beautiful Thing‘s jubilant spirit. A-