THEATRE REVIEW: Coke, Machines, Stars And Kisses - 53Two, Manchester.

It’s Pride! And what better way to kick things off than the gala night of John O’Neill’s new play, ‘Coke, Machines, Stars And Kisses’ at 53Two.  Directed by Chris Hoyle, the piece is exactly what it says n the title only much much more! It’s a two-hander (oh missus) with O'Neill starring as ‘Dale’ and Alexander Townson as ‘Lewis’.

The premise:

It’s the end of the night (3am), Lewis and Dale are the last two standing after a party at Dale’s mum’s - Lewis was never invited to but climbed over the wall anyway. They have known each other since school, they grew up on the same estate, around the same people, with the same lack of opportunity, but they were never friends. Lewis (a mechanic, inspired by his granddad’s help with his first bike) never left. Dale, however, got out and pursued a degree, securing a job as computer software engineer - there are some similarities.

One more drink and one more line leads them to both look up, admire the sky full of stars - something Lewis is very knowledgeable about - and the strawberry moon, under which it’s said you can fulfil your secret desires, let down their guards and unspoken urges take hold. Their real selves allowed to be thrust into the night sky and here in this moment together, the world looks beautiful. But as the sun rises and the stars fade, will they live in this new found freedom or be forced to go back to the lives they lead? 

'Coke, Machines, Stars And Kisses' examines the fragile relationships we have with ourselves, our community, school mates who were once feared bullies and the future we really want to create. Dale is somewhat shy and nerdy and not outlandishly gay whilst Lewis is a proper chavvy council estate lad who always had thoughts of curiosity about the gay world - something he is wholly accepting of - but hid it all behind his cocky confidence. More drinks, shared coke, a few jumps on the trampoline and they let the world fall away in one moment of passion, shared only by them, before they take things inside.

It’s gritty, raw, honest, highly relatable and emotionally empathetic to the burdens we hold whilst accepting ourselves and the things that have come before which impact who and how we are.

With humility, hilarity and exceptionally good writing, this show has to go places… to fringe, to schools, to youth clubs on council estates. It’s just beautiful and a story that needs to be shared.

Reviewer - John Kristof
on - 25.8.23