'Bare the musical' was not what I expected it was going to be.
That's not to say I was disappointed - far from it! In fact, I was pleasantly surprised and walked away feeling somewhat liberated.
The story tells the journey of two gay teenage boys who are in love and the struggles they go through when trying to come to terms with their romance.
Both boys attend a Catholic boarding school and are worried about what their peers and teachers would think of them if they came out.
Peter (played by Tyler Jones), an awkward loner, wants to tell his mother about the romance, but Jason (played by Joshua Brant), a popular jock, begs him to keep their affair secret.
The production comes to a head when, after an argument about their relationship, Jason sleeps with a girl and gets her pregnant.
It sounds like a very serious performance, and it was, but it was light-hearted in parts, such as when a nun sings to Peter in his dream, Sister Act style, backed up by three R&B angels.
I was amazed at the maturity of the actors, who all looked as though they were in their early 20s, as some scenes would have been hard to handle.
For example, there was a sex scene where Jason and his one-stand lover, Ivy (played by Gemma Sharpe), stripped down to their underwear.
And in a few acts, Jason and Peter made out - tongues and all!
The singing was also very professional and I got goose bumps when they sang as a chorus - the harmonies were magical.
Nadia (played by Rebecca Griffiths), for me, had the stand out voice amongst the cast, and I was surprised to read in the program that it was only her third production. However, I think it was the band that gave the musical its' standout vibe.
The eight musicians made up an exceptional ensemble that complimented the singers wonderfully.
I think it was eye-opening to have young adults telling the story about the struggles homosexuals go through when trying to come to terms with their sexuality and I think the cast did a great job in telling that story.
Although the ending was a bit of an anti-climax… not going to tell you what happens though - you'll have to see it to find out!
Bare, performed by the Playlovers Group, is showing at Hackett Hall in Floreat until December 6.
For tickets, call BOCS on 9484 1133.