A sparkling fairy tale

There are not enough straightforward, beautiful love stories on the London stage. A warm welcome back, then, to Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing - a tale of gay love blossoming within the sink estates of Thamesmead that, in Toby Frow's energetic and seemingly effortless revival, is quietly uplifting, enjoyable and sparklingly funny.

Jamie is a clever, introverted 15-year-old who skips school sport and argues with his barmaid mother Sandra. Andrew Garfield plays him with all the poise of a young Ben Whishaw - raw, delicate and powerful. When Sophie Stanton's Sandra hits him, he hits her back but these are decent, loving people all the same.

Living next door is Ste (Gavin Brocker), the apple of the eye of their other neighbour, Leah (Naomi Bentley). Beaten by his alcoholic father, Ste stays over at Jamie's and, via peppermint foot lotion, one thing leads to another. It's not long before Ste suggests they go and stay with a relative for the night ''cos she's deaf'.

Predictably, it all comes out but Bentley still finds real comedy in the angry, dark places of confession. Before we know it, the happy couple have raced to a slow dance on the balcony of their council block and nothing could seem more natural.

This is the first time Beautiful Thing has been seen in London for a dozen years and, in many senses, it now seems quite dated. In these days of civil partnerships, it really is, quite simply, just a rather lovely fairy tale.

Until Feb 11, Sound Theatre, 10 Wardour Street WC1, Mon to Sat 7.30pm, Thu and Sat mats 3pm, £10 to £20. Tel: 0870 890 0503. www.seetickets.com Tube: Leicester Square

Beautiful Thing