Jake and Luke are boyfriends and they live with Jake's fairy Godfather Leo. Luke loves Jake, but Jake doesn't seem to love Luke any more. Leo loves Jake too, just in a paternal way mind, but Jake doesn't have much time for his poor old guardian - in fact Jake doesn't really seem to like anybody much.

Meanwhile Leo, who also happens to be a rich businessman in charge of a fancy cake company (don't ask me why it happens to be fancy cakes, because I have absolutely no idea), falls for trashy and totally inappropriate telephonist twink Mach, who seems more interested in perfecting his Madonna impersonation than actually doing a days work.

So far so confusing, but the fact that Jason Charles is a skilled writer means that it makes more sense on stage. I won't give too much away, but what starts out as a light comedy soon takes a dark turn - skeletons come clattering out of closets and before you know it Counterfeit Skin has become a tale of infidelity, rampant masochism and potential violence - certainly not a show for the faint hearted. But does it work? I think the fairest answer would be just about.

First let's look at the cast. The obvious stars of the show are James Kristian and Dean Lyle, who play Jake and his layabout stoner best friend Ralph (although that relationship doesn't last long - but in Counterfeit Skin none of them ever do). Kristian is gorgeous, but also an extremely good actor, perfectly cast as a petulant pretty boy whose sexy looks and damaged self-image eventually lead to a spectacular downfall.

Lyle is great too, a natural performer who totally convinces, and the scenes between these two in the first half are probably the most successful of the entire evening. Sadly, the character of Ralph never really comes to much and slowly fades away as the story progresses, a criminal waste of this talented young man.

James Trueman takes a while to get into his stride, but once he does his portrayal of screwed up Mach is a heady combination of funny and scary, a vital part of the show's dizzying finale. Unfortunately the other members of the cast are a less able bunch, resulting in some rather lop-sided scenes.

The play has its good and bad points too. The story itself is engaging enough, with plenty of surprises and shocking twists, and Charles successfully mixes comedy with drama, but my main problem with Counterfeit Skin is that it is far, far too long. At three hours including a short interval, this show needs pruning - and when I say pruning I don't mean with dainty nail scissors, I mean with industrial size garden shears. While a few of the scenes fizz with excitement, others fall flat, in particular the clumsy monologues which pop up from time to time.

Charles obviously enjoys the process of writing (he has a BA in Creative Writing and Theatre Studies after all), but sometimes he gets so lost in the words that he forgets about the audience, resulting in some overlong, meandering episodes.

But I don't want to sound too negative, because this is a promising show with loads of potential. If I had to describe in two words I would go for 'not bad'. With some judicious cuts and a couple of cast changes it could be really rather good. And please let's see some more of the divine James Kristian - did I mention that he is gorgeous? Both he and Dean Lyle ooze confidence - hopefully their days of slogging it out in fringe productions are well and truly numbered.

Read our interview with Jason Charles.

Find out more at www.myspace.com/counterfeitskin and www.thecourtyard.org.uk.

Counterfeit Skin, by Jason Charles
The Courtyard Theatre Studio
Pitfield Street
Hoxton
London, N1 6EU

22 January-10 February 2008
 
Interested in queer drama? Then get Out on the Stage: Lesbian and Gay Theatre in the Twentieth Century online and save some money to out towards Something for the Boys: Musical Theatre and Gay Culture, Forbidden Acts: Pioneering Gay & Lesbian Plays of the 20th Century and The Queer Encyclopedia of Music, Dance & Musical Theatre.