It's the summer of 1982. Darren, 16, has recently arrived in Gibraltar with his 17-year-old sister and is desperate to fit in. His schoolmates include two British teenage boys, Doink and Jock, whose army fathers are both stationed on the island. The pair immediately prepare Darren for the annual ritual of violence with the local 'spics' known as Anti-English day.
As the war in The Falklands quickens pace, the boys' adolescent bravado takes on a dangerously competitive edge; their instinctive tribalism a neat microcosm of the values and demands of military conflict.
Gregory Burke's punchy examination of the link between masculine self-determination and aggressive patriotism is beautifully offset by John Tiffany's graceful
The Straits production, which frequently expresses the boys' burgeoning physicality with stylised dance sequences.
These suspended visual moments not only compound the precarious transition between boy and manhood underpinning Burke's characterisation, but also emphasise his characters' inarticulate teenage dialogue: Doink and Darren in particular are clearly hiding behind issues they do not understand.
Burke is also well-served by his excellent young cast, all four of whom bolster the play with a winning sense of authenticity. It's a good play and an even better production.
- Until Nov 29, Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue NW3, Mon to Sat 7.45pm, Sat mats 3pm, Nov 13 and Nov 27 mats 3pm, £12.50 to £19.50, £6.50 concs. Tel: 020 7722 9301. www.hampsteadtheatre.com Tube: Swiss Cottage
