A daring, modern and moving retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast
This version of Beauty and the Beast was originally produced by LGBTQ+ theatre company Flying Stage in Japan in 1996. It has since been translated into English by translator Gareth Mattey and made its debut at Jermyn Street Theatre. We were delighted to see a 20-minute reading at its second-ever showcase performance at Belly Scratch night at Underbelly Boulevard.
With a modern and queer twist on the classic, this reading explored the unlikely connection between Gloria, a film-obsessed drag queen, and Ryuji, a homophobic gangster on the run. The piece was directed and co-produced by Shogo Amo, who also stars as Gloria and was magnetic from the moment they stepped on stage. Their performance carried so much heart and humour that the audience couldn’t help but fall in love with Gloria. They were funny, vulnerable, and entirely disarming with their quirks.
The tone of the piece struck a nice balance, charged and tense at times but punctuated with moments of comedic relief that landed strongly with the audience. The writing felt fresh, peppered with modern language and cultural references that gave it a real sense of modernity.
I would’ve loved to see a bit more from Ryuji. His journey, from closed-off and combative to gradually softening, is a compelling one. However, in the reading, the shift in his attitude felt rather sudden. I imagine that nuance will come through more clearly in the full production as the relationship would have more space to develop. There was clear potential for a more layered dynamic between the two characters.
Overall, it was a genuinely promising showcase. I’m curious to see how the full-length
version continues to develop this complex, funny, and surprisingly tender story.