Sauna Boy by Dan Ireland-Reeves. The Stage Door Theatre, Prince of Wales Pub, 150 Drury Lane, London WC2 to 01 June 2024.

4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.

“Steamy goings on in Drury Lane.”

Dan Ireland-Reeves plays the Sauna Boy of the title and delivers a 5***** performance in what was a three night run – it has been seen elsewhere – and was its London premier. The “Boy” is a young actor who, to pay the rent, and not to the total satisfaction of his parents, takes a job in a south coast sauna run by a vicious old gent called Mother who lords over the entry desk and leaves the job of keeping the premises neat, tidy and clean to the staff. The “Boy” rises to the challenge and in no time at all becomes manager. Ireland-Reeves conjures up the other members of the staff and the customers perfectly and one learns all one needs to know about what happens in a gay sauna, if not necessarily all one wants to know. He even takes some of his clothes off, although this was not a job requirement. Monologues are tricky and Ireland-Reeves is patently a born teller of tales. The show, which had the full house on night two of the run applauding loud and long at this tale of steamy goings on in the steam room, and elsewhere, deserves more – dare one say it – exposure. It is a really good night out for some, if not all, at this new and very welcome venue where you can just about see a show and dine for the cost of a West End souvenir programme or a seat in the Gods.

Cast

Dan Ireland-Reeves – Boy.

Creatives

Lighting Design – Richard Lambert.