In our Edinburgh experiences over the past few years, we’ve seen a great play about boxing, Lace Up, and two great plays about gay men in sport, Odd Shaped Balls and Away From Home. Both subjects come together with Rob Ward’s latest play, Gypsy Queen, at Front Room @ Assembly Rooms, at 13:00 on Wednesday 23rd. Here is the blurb: “Can two men raised to fight ever learn to love? The story of “Gorgeous” George O’Connell, bare-knuckle fighter and traveller, who enters the world of professional boxing, putting him on a collision course with his roots, his identity and his greatest fear. In the opposite corner, gay boxer Dane “The Pain” Samson, the young pretender and son of a boxing legend, is fighting his own battles, which will lead to a tragedy that neither could predict. Gypsy Queen is an unconventional love story between two fighters who discover the greatest challenge lies outside the ring.”
Rob Ward is a brilliant actor so I’m really looking forward to seeing how he tackles this play; Ryan Clayton takes the other roles. I see this has already played a number of theatres over the past year and the reviews have been a little patchy; but I’m hoping any problems will have been ironed out by now. Check back around 2.30pm to see what we thought. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.
That was superb. A very strong play, unexpectedly very funny too, with great characters, a riveting story and its heart very much in the right place. And two excellent performances. Another fringe hit, highly recommended.