THE STRAITS
At the 59E59 Theater, 59 E. 59 St. Through Sunday. Call Ticket Central (212) 279-4200.
FOUR army brats have a lifechanging summer at a military base far from home. That’s the premise of Gregory Burke’s “The Straits,” a new play showing at the Brits Off-Broadway Festival at the 59E59 Theater.
Summer 1982: the year the Brits went to war against the Argentines over the Falkland Islands, a war that reverberates in the lives of our teens, who are with their families at Gibraltar, one of the last outposts of the British Empire.
The three boys, all around 16, spend half their time discussing the easy victory they expect over the Argentines. Doink, the most assertive, has an older brother in the Falklands and looks forward to joining the Marines; less aggressive but more intelligent is Jock; and Darren, the newcomer, is shy and eager to prove himself to Doink.
Keeping an eye out for Darren but cynical about boys is his sister Tracy, who sprawls sexily on the sea wall in a skimpy bathing suit. The boys also enjoy spearing octopi in the waters off Gibraltar, an activity that brings them into conflict with the local Spanish, whom they call “spics” and whom they identify with the Argentines.
When Darren is accused of cowardice by Doink, he attempts to prove his masculinity, while Jock takes the occasion to separate himself from Doink.
This play threatens at moments to become a political allegory, with the boys substituting for the British forces and the local Spanish for the Argentines. It is kept taut and electric by director John Tiffany, who positions the four with pointed precision across the set.
This raw tension is further heightened by Steven Hoggett, who has the actor move rhythmically – and with such devastating exactitude – it would be possible to call their motions a ballet, indeed a dance of death.
James Marchant is expressively macho as Doink; Freddy White steals the show as Jock, who gradually finds his humanity; Peter McNicholl is excellent as the eager to learn Darren, as is Alice O’Connell as his sexy but savvy sister.
“The Straits” has a memorable impact as a sad, ominous tale disguised as a simple coming-of-age story.