Jumpers for Goalposts ****

Bush Theatre, London

EXCERPT: "Jumpers for Goalposts is so extraordinary precisely because it seems so ordinary."

Jumpers for Goalposts is so extraordinary precisely because it seems so ordinary. Tom Wells' play discusses big topics - homophobia, terminal illness, death - but does so very naturally and firmly set in the context of personal situations. It refuses to make a song and a dance out of the team's sexuality. Being gay is not the issue, it's the situation. And frankly, watching Wells' play, it rather begs the question why more playwrights aren't being similarly matter of fact about it.

Wells has reversed the usual balance so that, in the 5 a side football team we see, there is a 'token straight' in amongst a group of gay people. We see the team each Sunday afternoon after they have played their weekly matches against the other teams (the self-named 'lesbian rovers' and 'trannies' etc). Rather than focusing on difficulties had with coming out, or with everyday or extreme homophobia, the play deals with the plethora of anxieties that there are to be found just in fancying people, asking them out, falling in love. These are big enough realities for us to empathise with on their own terms.

Wells' five characters are complex. Each have their own difficulties and through the play we witness every one take some sort of a personal journey. Their stories are beautifully and effortlessly linked together: Joe has lost his wife and Viv her sister; Danny fancies Luke but has a secret; Geoff is working out his identity and is best friends with Danny. They are all rubbish at football, but they come together to do their best every week nonetheless. Seeing the group every Sunday after the match in the games locker room (well designed by Lucy Osborne) enables us to see developments in relationships take effect. It is a simple premise, but - with the subtle direction of James Grieve and a uniformly brilliant cast - a superbly effective one. Each cast member brings out their character's distinctive personality whilst staying utterly believable and likeable. Jamie Samuel is sweet as Danny and it's heartwarming to see him flourish when his shy liking of Luke is validated and reciprocated. The pairing of him with Philip Duguid-McQuillan's Luke is perfectly done: as Luke, Duguid-McQuillan is weird, but he is also oddly charming and their mutual attraction and relationship feels credible, as does the way in which it progresses. Andy Rush as Geoff injects good energy and drama into the group; Vivienne Gibbs as Viv brings a good intensity to the piece and is balanced out by the more laid back Matt Sutton as Joe.

All in all, the play is charming and so enjoyable you can just relax back into it. It is only retrospectively that you really realise Wells has done something a little bit groundbreaking. It's on until 4 January 2014 - catch it if you can.