If you are in the city this weekend, treat yourself and stop by The Basement carpark. Not just to perhaps park your car, but also to see a rather gorgeous play which is set there – yes, in the carpark. Riding in Cars with (Mostly Straight) Boys is the work of celebrated up and comer Sam Brooks, whose play Queen is also showing in the Auckland Pride Festival. While that’s set in the theatre, this offering is in a car just outside The Basement. Dan Veint (with Calum Gittins in the background) take over The Basement Carpark Last night people clustered on stairs and chairs clasping drinks and watched two actors take over, using a Honda hatchback set up with microphones and speakers, so you can hear every intimate minute of what’s going on inside. Homeless people stumble past, dogs wander by, people heading into a show stop and stare, and it all adds to the atmosphere. Riding in Cars with (Mostly Straight) Boys centres on a young blue-haired gay guy called Kyle (Dan Veint) who keeps falling for his unattainable straight friends. This quandary is aided by the fact he can’t drive and needs rides everywhere from them. The script is packed with hilarious lines and language which reflects the stuff we’d actually say. “Straight guys fucking suck dick!” a knitted cat jersey-clad Kyle blasts at one stage. He tells us all about ‘v gutters’ and at one point offers a self-high five. He’s a perfect rendition of one of those guys who talks and talks and talks, not stopping no matter how awkward things get. And things of course get awkward when he hits on his straight mates. The series of other characters is played with poise by Calum Gittins; a ‘yeah nah’ guy from school, to his sweet best mate, a Scottish buddy and the gay guy he tries to date. Does Kyle just have no gaydar? Does he perhaps he only wants his straight friends because they are safe and unattainable? We’ll leave that for you to get down to The Basement carpark and discover. For just a koha entry, it’s more than worth it. Take a ride with these two great actors and a brilliant script. Playing till Saturday at 6PM and 7.30PM The Basement Car Park, Lower Greys Avenue Entry by koha, but to reserve a space, email smokelabours@gmail.com Jacqui Stanford - 14th February 2014