Revisiting a show can sometimes throw up some surprises where you notice different nuances in the delivery of the piece. With Ben Santa Maria’s semi autobiographical play Really Want To Hurt Me, this is most certainly the case. Ryan Price is very impressive in his delivery of this 60 minute monologue showing an agility and ability – and also a superb singing voice – to tell the story of a boy growing up in Exeter and coming to terms with his own identity and sexual awakening. This is a lovely piece that deals with very real and modern day issues of school bullying, heartache, suicidal thoughts and the lack of self worth. But this is not a doom and gloom story. Really Want To Hurt Me has a thoughtful and happy ending with Ryan uttering a simple ‘see ya’ before it fades to black. This actor’s star is on the rise. A consummate performance fuelled by a very good script.
*****
Really Want To Hurt Me runs to Saturday 24th November at Theatre 503, 503 Battersea Park Road, SW11. Box office 020 7978 7040 theatre503.com; also if you missed it at Theatre 503 there is a special performance on the 13th December at 7pm at Soho Theatre as part of the Soho Rising Festival.
Box office 020 7478 0100 https://sohotheatre.com/shows/really-want-to-hurt-me/
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