When We Rise is the latest dramatic creation from Dustin Lance Black documenting the battle for equality for the LGBT community in the USA.
CREDIT: ABC/YouTube
When We Rise was broadcast in the USA on the ABC network at the end of February 2017. It aired nightly, over 8 nights with the final broadcast on the 2nd March 2017. Dustin Lance Black directed the final two episodes. The other six were directed by Gus Van Sant, Dee Rees and Thomas Schalmme.
As of yet, no broadcast date has been announced for the UK or other world-wide territories. We will keep you updated.
You’ve probably heard of or seen this musical in some form or other. You might know it as the 90’s Robin Williams/Nathan Lane comedy film The Birdcage, the original French farce and subsequent film version from the 70s or the often revived 80’s Broadway musical.
It’s a queer little story in more ways than one. Drag queen Albin and his long-term lover Georges run a nightclub in St Tropez. Georges’ son (from a drunken one night stand) who they’ve raised together wants to bring home his fiancée and her ultra-conservative parents. There’s one condition, though. Albin must be hidden away for fear of embarrassing their son with his high camp ways.
Famously launching the gay anthem ‘I Am What I Am” onto the world, this is a musical that emerged during a storm of reawakened prejudice amidst the AIDS crisis yet managed to lure thousands of people into seeing a heartwarming and fun show about gay men in a committed relationship. It revved up an astonishing reaction in an army of straight men dragged along by their wives and girlfriends who then ended up dancing in the aisles and cheering on a flamboyant and camp main character as he fought against prejudice. Quite a feat.
CREDIT: Pamela Raith
This touring production is a bit of a paradox. It feels undercooked and underwhelming in parts and there’s a distinct lack of comic timing from swathes of the cast. In spite of this, it’s also incredibly good fun. Yes, it’s like a night at ‘Funny Girls” in Blackpool. Yes, it’s more Danny La Rue in pantomime than RuPaul. Yes, the drag queens would certainly get a dressing down from Michelle Visage for sloppy padding but it’s got an infectious charm nonetheless.
John Partridge (best known for his role as Christian Clarke in Eastenders) as Albin shows his musical theatre pedigree and belts out a tune with panache. He’s also not a bad ad-libber (although be warned, public transport users. The show overruns due to this). The sets are stylish but wobbly. The costumes are glitzy and although the plot is absurd it’s tolerable. Forget production values and all that stuff though. All in all, it’s a fun night and the audience at The New Wimbledon Theatre were ecstatic.
‘La Cage aux Folles” is on a national tour throughout 2017, book tickets here
As Jeffrey Schwartz’s excellent new documentary I Am Divine is released in the UK, The Gay UK’s film critic Roger Walker-Dack caught up with legendary filmmaker John Waters for a few personal words about his muse and great friend Divine.
John told us ‘When it comes toI Am Divine I have let Jeffrey be the one to speak, as it’s his film in this instance he’s the one who deserves the attention. I’m STILL shocked that Divine is dead! Divine had a great life in the UK, and he’d be thrilled that the film is being so well received.’
Glen Milstead aka Divine was unquestionably John Water’s finest actor and muse. Not simply because of his talent that was as outsize as his physique, but because like Waters he was both totally fearless and dared to push the boundaries of bad taste as far as he possibly could. And he did it all in such outrageous style and unfettered enthusiasm that made him such an iconic cult figure.
In filmmaker Jeffrey Schwartz’s new very upbeat documentary into this unique entertainer and character, we learn that Divine had always dreamt of being a movie star since he was a kid who had been picked in and bullied at school as being both effeminate and fat. And he did deservedly become one and was just about to parlay his major underground success into the mainstream with a (non-drag) part in a nationally syndicated TV sitcom when he dropped down dead in Hollywood after a massive heart attack the very day before filming was due to start. He was just 42 years old. Manager, Bernard Jay poignantly claimed that as Divine was at the peak of his career, he had at least died happily.
Divine and John Waters both grew up in Baltimore and met when they were teenagers. They made anarchic campy home movies together at the beginning with exaggerated characters in outrageous situations with hyperbolic dialogues. They were never meant to be shown outside of their wee band of local actors that included Mink Stole, Edith Massey, and David Lochary (the latter becoming a big love of Divine’s life before his own untimely death). But word got out and soon people were clamouring to see the films that got bigger and even bolder.
Water’s ‘trashy trilogy’ ‘Pink Flamingos’, ‘Female Trouble’, and ‘Desperate Living’ cemented Divine’s reputation as a movie diva, in particular, Flamingos which earned him the title of ‘the filthiest person alive’ after the notorious scene where he actually ate dog faeces. And after these successes, he also started to diverse his career taking starring roles in Off-Broadway shows, and becoming a very successful disco recording star. He added a whole new meaning to the word ‘fierce’!
Many of the interviewees that Schwartz included gave Divine great credit for expanding the concept of the drag queen from brash female impersonator into something much larger, more subversive and less gender specific. Yet without a single exception, none of the TV chat show hosts that interviewed him could deal with the fact that Divine was sitting opposite them in men’s clothing calmly stating that ‘she’ was a character that he played and not the person he actually was off the screen.
Matinee idol Tab Hunter recounted the joy he had at working with Divine on two very successful movies ‘Polyester’ and ‘Lust in The Dust’. These were followed by ‘Hairspray’, which turned out to be Divine’s biggest hit and very last movie.
Schwartz beautifully captures both the joyous nature of Divine’s flamboyant life and also the great sense of sheer enjoyment he had. He includes the completely tasteless clip from ‘Eat Your Makeup.’ in which Divine played Jacqueline Kennedy in a grotesquely amusing re-creation of the Kennedy assassination just two years after the event. But he also shows the scene from ‘Multiple Maniacs’ where Divine’s character is raped by a giant lobster! A perfect epitaph.
Someone said towards the end of the movie … ‘after him, no-one can ever now be called Divine … he OWNS that title’. Too true.
An unmissable flawless movie.
The fabulous UK and Irish Cinema and VOD release of I Am Divine is one week away!
Netflix has a great selection of LGBT+ films on its platform. Whether you’re in the mood for a smushy romance or a heartbreaking documentary there’s something available for everyone.
A young man plays it very cool with his friends while he hides his true sexuality in the new film Beach Rats.
UK born Dickinson is very good as Frankie. He nails down the accent and the attitude almost perfectly. With no previous film credits, he’s a natural and very compelling to watch on the big screen (and boy is he sexy)! Director Eliza Hittman gets almost everything right in this film, with the exception of the last 20 minutes that gets a bit too unbelievable. But it’s Dickinson you’ll remember when the screen credits go up. He’s on to bigger and better things. (TIM BAROS)
I Am Michael ★★★★
Biography
It’s based on the true story of Michael Glatze, who claimed he was no longer gay and became a straight pastor. But in 1999, Michael was in a gay relationship with boyfriend Bennett (Zachary Quinto) and was the editor of the successful real-life XY Magazine, while at the same time living in San Francisco – it was the ultimate gay life and gay lifestyle. But Bennett’s father has a job for him in Halifax, Canada, so they relocate there – it’s a city with not much to do, but they end up hooking up with the young good looking Tyler (Charlie Carver). But after a few panic attacks, and memories of his late father and mother, Michael starts to question his homosexuality – he starts to re-evaluate his life, loves, and takes up to reading the bible for answers, until one day he leaves it all behind for a new life. (TIM BAROS)
King Cobra ★★★★
Biography
Dive into the back story of one of gay porn’s most popular actors, Brent Corrigan.
The film stormed the Toronto Film Festival and had its European premiere at the London Film Festival. The film has stirred up a lot of controversies as it shows the discovery of Brent Corrigan (Garrett Clayton) before two other agents then decide to take charge of his mega career which leads to an infamous murder that shocked the porn industry, remember this is real and true-life story. (PAUL STAG)
Alex Strangelove ★★★
Romance
High school senior Alex Truelove’s plan to lose his virginity to a loveable girlfriend goes awry when he meets the equally lovable Elliot. An easy and inoffensive watch.
Holding The Man ★★★★★
Biopic
Holding the Man is one of the better, or perhaps maybe the best, of all the films that’s dealt with the AIDS crisis. It’s a movie that simply tells a story, a love story so enduring and epic that it’s irrelevant whether the characters are gay or straight. Plus it’s a story that some of us, who were around in the 1980s and 1990s when friends and partners were dying right and left from AIDS, can, unfortunately, relate to.
Corr and Stott are terrific and give it their all (Anthony LaPaglia is especially good as Caleo’s stern and unforgiving father). But it’s in the storytelling where this film excels. Credit goes to director Armfield and writer Murphy for successfully bringing this story to the screen. It’s a story that’s been told a few times (Philadelphia), but not in such a meaningful, and very realistic, way. However it’s Conigrave’s book on which this film is based, it’s his book about his relationship with Caleo, a sort of love letter to him, and we’re all very lucky to be able to see what an amazing, yet heartbreaking, relationship it was. This film is highly recommended. REVIEW: TIM BAROS
Dallas Buyers Club ★★★★★
Biography
This film has been a long time coming. Scriptwriters Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack based it on the hundreds of interviews they had with the film’s main character, Woodroof, and then waited 20 years for the movie to finally get made. Several directors and stars were attached to it until it ended up in the hands of Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallee.
His two principal stars lost a ton of weight for the parts, Jared Leto, as Rayon dropped 30 lbs and Matthew McConaughey a scary 50 lbs. They both gave powerful dazzling performances. It was definitely a stunning change in direction for McConaughey in particular who has established his career so far mainly in rom-coms, but for my two cents (!) it was Leto’s heartbreaking turn as the drug-addicted Rayon that totally bowled me over. It makes one appreciate that Leto has been off our screens for too long. (ROGER WALKER-DACK)
Dreamboat ★★★★
Documentary
An intimate look at gay cruising. Not the type you’d encounter in the woods or a cottage, but at sea. Why is cruising (at sea) so popular with gay men. This documentary follows the stories of five men and their reflections and discoveries as they cross the ocean. And possibly the only actual non-porn blowjob scene you’ll actually see on film.
Ideal Home ★★★
Comedy
Paul Rudd and Steve Coogan (at his campiest best) play, respectively, Paul and Erasmus Brumble (what a name!), a gay couple who have been together long enough, perhaps too long, to be set in their argumentative ways. Brumble is a flamboyant TV chef and Paul is his producing partner, and they live in the stunningly beautiful town of Santa Fe, New Mexico. They run their empire from their adobe house that has views to die for of the landscape which includes turquoise sunsets and rolling luscious mountains. They seem to have it all, but yet there also seems to be something missing in their lives. (TIM BAROS)
McQueen ★★★★★
Biography
Fashion designer Alexander McQueen was a genius He had an eye for fashion but was also a troubled soul. The new documentary McQueen shows the highs, and the lows, of McQueen’s life.
McQueen is an excellent testament to the man who was also called Lee. Through his friends, associates and sister Janet, we really feel that we get to know who Lee actually was ourselves. But it’s through the footage of his fashion shows where we get to see the real talent that he had. His shows were events, some very dark (which explains how deep and troubled he was), and showed how gorgeous, and emotionally beautiful, his creations were. Alexander McQueen died way too young, but through this documentary, you can at least experience his life and work, which was cut way too short. (TIM BAROS)
The Miseducation of Cameron Post ★★★★
Drama
A powerful and understated story of conversion therapy in the heart of the USA. Cameron is forced into a religious gay cure camp to pray the gay away, except, she’s headstrong and clings to her identity.
Behind The Candelabra ★★★★
Biography
Even if one knows little about Liberace, the story is a familiar one, basically a celebrity marriage that goes wrong. The end of Liberace’s relationship with Thorson is already there in the beginning.
When Thorson first meets Liberace, we also meet Liberace’s current lover, a relationship that has obviously soured, so it is no surprise when the scene is replicated later in the film, this time with a young dancer taking the Thorson role, and Thorson taking the role of the disgruntled lover. There is no doubt about the love and affection the two men have for each other at the beginning of the relationship, but things take a bizarre turn when Liberace decides he would like to adopt Thorson, and asks Thorson to undergo plastic surgery to make him look more like Liberace’s younger self. (GREG MITCHELL)
Love Is Strange one of the most talked about gay movies of the year has been wowing both crowds and critics in the US since it opened in August. The New York Time’s Movie Critic recently said it would be his personal pick for the Best Picture Oscar. Now it is finally about to open in UK Cinemas, here is our take on this superb love story.
In Ira Sach’s follow-up to his highly acclaimed 2013 hit Keep The Lights On, love is also extraordinarily wonderful too. It’s the tale of George & Ben a devoted couple who have enjoyed a somewhat glorious life together in Manhattan for the past 39 years. Now that same-sex marriage is legal in NY they decide to have a joyous wee ceremony surrounded by their close friends to tie the knot and make it all ‘official’. Everyone is happy for the two men now in their late 60s, except for George’s employers who had been blissfully aware of his relationship with Ben in the 12 years he had taught music at their school. Marriage, however, was too much for them, the Catholic Church that is, so in an act of Christian charity they unceremoniously fired him on the spot.
With Ben already retired and George unable to find another job the men soon ran out of money and very reluctantly had to sell the Co-op Apartment that they had lived in for decades. Sadly none of their friends in the city had a spare room to put the couple up in, so for the very first time since they had met, they had to split up whilst the hunt for a new affordable Manhattan apartment continued.
George moved in with a couple of handsome young gay cops next door and crashed on their couch. The trouble was that his new ‘landlords’ had a seemingly endless list of young friends who loved to hang out at the apartment and party all hours, usually whilst sitting on George’s ‘bed’. Ben, on the other hand, was given a bunk bed in his great nephew’s room, something the young rebellious teenage bitterly resented.
As time passed, and with no sign of a new apartment for the newly weds, tensions got very strained. George could hardly bear living in party central and getting little sleep, and Ben seemed stuck in the middle of an escalating feud between his great nephew and his parents who saw eye to eye on nothing. It was when the latter eventually erupted and the boy was grounded after being caught out being led astray by a much older school chum, that there was a breakthrough between him and his old gay ‘nuisance’ Uncle. In a very touching scene when the boy broke down and didn’t just share but actually listened for once, he learnt from Ben about being true to himself and loving who he wanted too without shame.
It’s impossible to say where things led to from this point without giving spoilers in what is such a beautiful and touching story. It’s a neat lesson in hate (the Church), and in tolerance (the family) and a perfect example of love that is quietly understated and without histrionics.
George and Ben are portrayed so exquisitely by veteran actors Alfred Molina and John Lithgow and are the perfect epitome of a devoted couple completely in love and who totally idolise each other. The very obvious chemistry between the two on screen is completely convincing and they are a sheer joy to watch.
There is absolutely nothing ‘strange’ about George and Ben’s love especially as it is the focus and example to all the other couples in this charming story whether they are gay or straight.
Mr Sachs has created a fine feature about mature love that shouldn’t just be niche marketed as a ‘gay film’ as it deserves and will delight a much wider audience.
P.S. And I am thankful to him too that this is one ‘gay theme’ film that doesn’t have the obligatory nudity.
“It is an extraordinary honour to part of this national treasure of a show. Noel Fielding is one of the nicest guys in show business. The first time I met him I felt like I had met a rather wayward cousin whose take on the world made me laugh. The only down side is that he has much better dress sense that I do. I spend my daytimes on Channel 4 already so it will be a treat to be there in the evenings. I am so delighted to be working with Love Productions and Channel 4 on this best of British show.”
Restaurateur, food writer and novelist Prue Leith will be joining Paul Hollywood as judge of The Great British Bake Off when it returns to screens later this year on Channel 4.
Alongside the expert judges will be presenter comedian and writer Sandi Toksvig OBE and comedian and actor Noel Fielding as well as the all-important twelve amateur bakers for the eighth series of the multi-award-winning show.
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre is the perfect setting for this MGM-style musical which is performed with style and honesty.
This new musical, written by brothers David and Joseph Zellnik, is having its premiere at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. It is an apt location for this innovative piece which buckles the trend of new pop-musicals. Yank! is billed as World War II love story. While ostensibly this is true – it’s actually much more than it gives itself credit for.
The show centres around Stu, a young gay man, who is drafted into the army to fight in the Second World War. He struggles to find his literal and metaphorical place amongst the pseudo-masculine military men – a mission which is only complicated by his complex relationship with his fellow squadron Mitch.
Musically and stylistically, Yank! has all the makings of the classic MGM musical. Though the second act goes to places which are considerably more candid and poignant that you might expect from a show consisting of tap-dancing men in khaki.
Scott Hunter plays the timid Stu with a fragile believability and Barnaby Hughes’ Mitch has all the charisma you’d expect from an, albeit untraditional, leading man. The ensemble cast are also strong all-rounders and support the principle cast in moments of hilarity and sincerity alike.
Despite the show being set almost 80 years ago, the tropes of this new musical are as current as ever. Substitute the frontline with a school playground, workplace or a homophobic family home, and you’ll see that the struggles of young gay men are not confined to the stories of history.
Baker, the show’s director, said that he didn’t want these stories to get lost from history. With this charming new musical hopefully set to become a staple of musical theatre repertoire, the story of Stu and Mitch, and the men they represent, will hopefully live on for years to come.
Yank! The Musical plays at the Hope Mill Theatre until 8th April 2017
Few names exist in the music industry where sparks have spread like wildfire across the world. Bob Marley was certainly the sensation that reached many people around the globe, and the feeling that ripples still decades later. Bob’s vision, talent and style have made him an eternal flame.
The Birmingham Rep hosted ‘One Love: The Bob Marley Musical’, and an epic event it was! Written and directed by Kwambe Kwei Armah, ‘One Love’ celebrates the icon Bob Marley in a delicate, timeless and memorable way. Through the history of his early music career to his later achievements, the audience were transported on a journey evoking nostalgia and emotion from the depths of your core.
Mitchell Brunings played Bob Marley in an effervescent way that drew you in instantly, and commanded the stage with mastery and ‘next-level’ leadership, as the remaining characters shone around him; upscaling the standard of the production. It was a flawless performance by Mitchell. As an ensemble, every artist was terrific and invested every ounce of energy into every move and musical note. Alexia Khadime who played Rita Marley was the second star of the show second to Mitchell Brunings, with her gifted musical range and was absolutely captivating in her acting. Alexia really added to the drama and darkness of the story and handled emotion expertly.
The Redemption Song was my favourite moment in the show as the track was beautifully arranged to illustrate the moment Bob Marley’s life turned 360 degrees, returning to his routes.
ULTZ designed the production and a vision that was fitting with the ambition of the show. Using multimedia against sets, creating moments in time with real footage corresponding with key events shown in the musical. People need to see this show for the education, entertainment and the ride down memory lane were as sweet as guava jelly!
In a reimagining of the classic tale, Dr Victoria Frankenstein shuns her family as she relentlessly pursues her quest for knowledge and in her exploration of the part of existence where life and death meet. In her experiments with bringing the dead back to life, she creates a creature, which overpowers her and escapes. Haunted by her creation and by her guilt, her life begins to unravel as the creature returns a little too close to home.
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
Mary Shelley’s definitive work is one which is firmly cemented in popular culture and one which is not easy to present with an original slant, which Northern Stage have tried to do. There were numerous themes of conflict portrayed within the production, with Victoria shunning religion in favour of science; her pursuit of knowledge at the cost of her compassion and the sacrifice of others for the preservation of one’s own interests. As the story arc progressed, there was something bittersweet in the way in which it takes a monster to make Victoria more human; despite how she treats her family and the way in which her self-driven ambition is ultimately self-destructive.
Utilising a quasi-steampunk style set and, at times, some effective lighting; there was a relatively competent performance from Polly Frame as Dr Victoria Frankenstein; and whilst Ed Gaughan’s portrayal of the Creature was physically engaging, the way in which the creature spoke made many of his lines indiscernible. However, the closing scene was one which did carry some emotional weight and did bring the characters journey to a definitive and tender end.
But sadly, the production overall was one which was never really hit its stride. The re-imagining of Dr Frankenstein as a female had such potential; but the struggles of Victoria to carve a path into the male-dominated medical profession or the challenges faced by her in breaking with the conventional female role was never really advanced, which, in the end, resulted in adding nothing of significance to the story. The timeline of the narrative was often unclear, with no clear demarcation between shifts in scenes or timeframes; and an intrusive sound design dominated the first act. But the biggest issue was that the production just lacked atmosphere and dramatic tension. A heavy reliance on the relationships between the Frankenstein family members meant for a limited narrative progression and the all too brief appearance of the creature throughout meant that the production felt more like a family drama than a gothic horror.
Whilst there are some interesting themes on offer and despite a handful of redeeming features, this feels like a missed opportunity, and it is a genuine shame that the production never really achieves its potential, in what could have been a wholly refreshing and original take on a classic tale.
Spring is in the air (almost) and with this comes gay films – and the BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival.
Taking place from March 16th – 27th at the NFT on the South Bank in London, this year Flare, for it’s 31st year, will deliver over 50 features, more than 100 shorts, and a wide range of special events including workshops, club nights and much much more in what is one of the world’s largest LGBT Film Festivals. Here’s a taste of what is showing:
Against the Law
Against the Law – the world premiere (and opening night gala) of this British film which commemorates 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. The film deals with a Daily Express journalist, Peter Wildeblood, who has an affair with a serviceman that becomes disastrous for both of them in light of the law. Starring Mark Gattis (Boys in the Band) and Daniel Mays.
Signature Movie
Signature Movie – a widowed Pakistani woman living in Chicago falls in love with a Mexican woman but it’s not acceptable behavior in her culture. Even more so in that her mother constantly nags her about about finding another man to marry.
Torrey Pines – a psychedelic stop-motion animation film about a child grappling with gender identity and a schizophrenic mother. The film will be accompanied by a live score from director Clyde Petersen’s Queercore band.
After Louie
After Louie – Alan Cumming is a troubled New York-based artist, a survivor of the AIDS epidemic, who meets a young man who turns his life around.
Different for Girls – A woman has to explain to her female partner how she became pregnant while they were on a break. Expect lots of tension and drama!
Heavyweight
Short film Heavyweight deals with the arrival of a boxer who finds his world turned upside down by the arrival a new fighter at his club.
Flare continues to categorise the films in different sections: Hearts (love, romance and friendship), Bodies (sex, identity and transformation) and Minds (reflections on art, politics and community). Here’s a small sample of some of these films:
Handsome Devil, starring Andrew Scott, is about the unlikely friendship between a lonely gay teen and his hunky rugby-playing roommate; Heartland follows a young woman who has to move back home to Oklahoma following the death of her girlfriend; Being 17 is the touching story of two gay teenage boys in their last year in high school; Body Electric follows a young man and his casual encounters in Brazil; The Trans List, a documentary of where prominent transpeople, including Caitlin Jenner and Laverne Cox, tell their stories; Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things, a documentary about LGBT life in Canada’s remote Artic Intuit polulation; as well as Last Man Standing, the life of eight long-term AIDS survivors.
There’s also a chance to catch two recent gay-themed films in case you missed them. Academy Award winner Moonlight, which is the first gay-themed film to win Best Picture, and French Canadian wunderkind director Xavier Dolan’s It’s Only the End of the World will both be shown at the festival.
We highly recommend a visit to the festival at least on one of the days, but if you have the stamina, and the money, there is something for everyone every single day of the festival. To learn more about what’s going on, and to buy tickets, please visit:
Saved by the introduction of protease inhibitors in the mid-1990s, many HIV-positive men needed to rebuild the lives they thought they’d never be able to live. In an effort to make peace with the virus inside them, some migrated to California’s Palm Springs in the hope of finding a healing desert oasis. But is this environment enough to heal their shattered bodies & dispel their lingering grief?
Starring: Keith Epley, Steve Henderson, Doug Graham
Runtime: 1 hour, 21 minutes
Release: 2015
IMDB: 8.2/10
