Wet Feet ★★★ The Union Theatre | June 18 - 29, 2024


A gay sauna may seem like an unlikely venue for a romance to begin, but for Franko and Nathan it becomes a safe space sheltering them from the challenges of the world outside. Franko is a germophobe whose fear is really a projection of his inability to accept himself. He is also a Jehovah's Witness whose avowal of his homosexuality would result in him losing both his family and his support group. Nathan has already been rejected by his mother because he is gay, and his coming out has led to the break up of his family. The two wounded men slowly bond as they share their stories and struggle with fully coming out. Michael Neri's play is a tender and humorous look at their developing relationship, but it all seems rather predictable, and this is not aided by the fact that the dialogue has a rather composed, artificial ring. The voices of the two characters seem almost identical in their speech patterns, phrasing, and vocabulary. As Franko, Neri does a fine job of creating his character's vulnerability and his burgeoning trust in himself and in his newly found friend. As Nathan, Matthew Edgar has less to work with, and his story is neither as fully developed nor made as engaging as Franko's. Nevertheless, he puts in a convincing performance, and one would have to be very hardhearted, indeed, not to become involved and to root for the success of this relationship of the two sauna soul-mates. Wet Feet is a coming-out story/romcom that has a definite charm and some good laughs.

Rated: ★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Matthew Coulton

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When, Where, Getting there:
  • June 18 - 29, 2024
  • Tue - Sat: 8 pm,
  • Sat Jun 22: 3 pm (no evening performance)
  • Sun Jun 23: 3 pm
  • Sun Jun 29: 5 pm & 8 pm
  • The Union Theatre
  • Nearest tube: Southwark
  • http://uniontheatre.biz/show/wet-feet/
Map & Location: 229 Union St, London SE1 0LR, UK

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