THEGAYUK

Category: Entertainment

  • ALBUM REVIEW | Christmas, With Love – Leona Lewis

    ★★★★ | Christmas, With Love,
    Christmas, With Love, Album Review: The Voice Returns For Christmas.

    I’ll admit, I love a bit of Leona; I remember watching X Factor in 2006 as she took the X Factor crown and embarked on a journey to becoming the most successful artist to survive Simon Cowell’s talent competition.

    Sadly, that being said, I’ve found her albums to have gotten progressively unsuited to her vocal style and ultimately unlistenable, if truth be told I didn’t even buy Glassheart, and judging on the sales figures neither did her legions of fans. Where are the power ballads? Where are the soaring riffs and runs? Where is Britain’s Mariah – the reason why she ultimately wowed that X Factor audience.

    But Lewis, the voice, returns for the holidays and gives fans something they will truly treasure, her festive offering Christmas, With Love.

    A very traditional-sounding record, which does take a few tracks to get used to, but pays perfect homage to Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound.

    Usually the big reverbs and muddy sounding recordings are reserved for rockier vocals, but these arrangements allow Lewis’s vocal prowess to shine through with her crystal intonations; with a few tracks delivering exceptional and surprising performances – check out Ava Maria, Mr. Right and Your Hallelujah.

    The outcome is an entirely magnificent range of Christmas belters where we are reminded why Lewis became the voice of her generation.

    Bravo Leona! Britain’s Mariah might just reign supreme this Christmas.

  • TV REVIEW | Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves

    TV REVIEW | Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves

    ★★★★★  Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves | A man lies dying alone in a solitary hospital room. Two nurses, wearing protective clothing from head to foot are dressing his sores and wounds.

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Dick Comes Again

    ★★★ Once again, Leicester Square Theatre has provided an outrageously camp panto that hovers on just the right side of obscenity.

    Dick (Dave Bibby) and his trusty but drunk sidekick, Dave the Cat (Nick Read), agree to help Alice Fitznicely (Laura Hyde) sail the Leaky Vessel up Streaky Crack to find her family jewels and the key to her chas-titty belt. They are aided and hindered along the way by Sofonda Cox (Soho legend, The Very Miss Dusty ‘O’), Queen Runt (Paula Masterton) and Fairy Bell-End (Laura Curnick).

    With a few of last year’s jokes re-used, this production could, perhaps, have benefitted from some more original material, but it’s a small complaint. The old jokes are still relevant and the new ones manage to shock and delight in equal measure – there were a few audible gasps from the middle-aged ladies sat in front of me who shrieked and squealed throughout the evening.

    The innuendos come thick and fast in almost every line of Stuart Saint’s script with moments of genuine hilarity. Plenty of twerking and some superb performances from the very colourful cast further enhance the deliciously filthy pantomime atmosphere.

    The best laughs of the night, for this critic anyway, come from Dave the Cat, a drunk sexed-up version of Puss from Shrek (complete with dodgy Spanish accent). Nick Read performs his role brilliantly and shines through an already bright cast. Laura Hyde’s Alice is another particularly splendid performance, playing the role in the time-honoured over-the-top panto manner.

    Golden showers, S&M, Asian ladyboys and even a 14” dildo complete the ingredients for this fun Soho night out with plenty of suitably cringe-worthy audience participation.

    DICK! COMES AGAIN: BIGGER, LONGER, HARDER! plays at the Leicester Square Theatre until 19 January.

  • Mr Gay UK 2013 Crowned

    Gentlemen… a new man has been crowned as Mr Gay UK – obvs, we’re totes disappointed it wasn’t us – not that we entered… but still…

    Now we do like a semi-naked picture of a man at TheGayUK, so we’re more than happy to introduce to you, Mr Gay UK 2013.

    The judging panel consisted of GT Assistant Editor Lee Dalloway and Editorial Assistant Ryan Butcher, Mr Gay UK 2012 Leroy Williamson gayleeds.com Co-Editor Ross McCusker and Swedish Pop Star Jan George.

    The evening was hosted by MrGayUK Director, Terry George who introduced the 9 gorgeous finalists, who had been chosen by the public from over 250 applicants from throughout the UK (this year digitally via social networking sites).

    At midnight on the night of the final Stuart Hatton 28 from South Shields was chosen by the judges and crowned Mr Gay UK 2013.

    Stuart is the co-principal at his family dance studios, The Hatton Academy of Dance. When asked how he felt about winner the title of MrGayUK he said: “It feels amazing to be Mr Gay UK and I’m very proud to bring the title to the North East for the first time. He added “I hope I can be a role model for the gay community throughout the UK.”

  • Celebrity Big Brother Returns To Our Screens On 3rd January 2014

    Hold on to ye reality TV hats… Celebrity Big Brother has been confirmed for a January 2014 return.

    A new set of celebs are due to move into the Big Brother House on the 3rd January 2014, during a two launch show on Channel 5, hosted by Rylan Clark and Emma Willis

    Judging by the publicity photos, it looks as though CBB has gone a bit masquerade, giving it a regal makeover, which we love.

    So, will the new series be fit for a queen? Will there be any royalty, minor or otherwise in the new series?

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Shape of Things, Arcola Theatre London

    ★★★★★ | The Shape of Things, Arcola Theatre London

    I’m sure you all know the scenario: you meet a man who you feel needs a few little tweaks just to make him perfect.

    Maybe he needs a new hairstyle or better clothes, maybe a better physique or a more sparkling repartee. Perhaps he needs to lose a few of his less desirable friends. What if this was to become the main feature of your relationship, though? What if changing him was the impetus of your bond? Where do you draw the line?

    This 2001 play from Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbours, Fat Pig) is well worth this refreshing revival and is as pertinent today as it was the day it was written. The rapier sharp and pacey dialogue makes for a gripping piece that is both hilariously funny and chilling in equal measures. The cast of four are particularly strong with outstanding performances that draw you in to the narrative and the cunning use of an initially minimalist set underlines the play’s themes. The intimate space of the Arcola Theatre lends itself well to this intense and witty black comedy.

    It’s definitely well worth travelling out to the funky Arcola theatre to catch this modern classic with killer performances from a particularly strong cast.

    The play runs until the 21st of December

    Buy tickets here: http://www.arcolatheatre.com/production/arcola/the-shape-of-things

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Boylexe, The Shadow Lounge, London

    ★★★ | Boylexe, The Shadow Lounge, London

    Last Friday, the Shadow Lounge in Soho, paid host to the boylesque show, Boylexe, which the company performed to a packed house of rowdy guys and gals, clearly in the mood for a fun night out. In the event, I’m not sure they got quite what they expected.

    According to one of its performers, Phil Ingud, Boylexe is “a great night out filled with cabaret, stripping and touching stories… and a LOT of flesh!” which I suppose describes it pretty well. When I asked him how the show would differ from strip shows like The Chippendales and Dreamboys, he talks about the art of burlesque being different, less sexual, more about teasing and titillating, with no full frontal nudity.

    So far, so good. Only I felt that none of the routines we saw at the Shadow Lounge on Friday night were titillating enough. Clothes were divested much too quickly and there was no real sense of teasing the audience with the possibility that they might catch a glimpse of someone’s naughty bits. Not that we need to see them, of course, but there should always be the prospect, the possibility. That is what titillating means.
    A mixture of stripping and monologues, the show didn’t seem to know quite where it was pitching itself. MC, Alp Haydar presides over proceedings with an energy and enthusiasm, which manages to be both naughty and disarming at the same time, and the audience really responded to him, but this in itself caused problems, meaning that when Phil Ingut delivered his monologue about HIV, it was greeted with a rather uncomfortable silence. Maybe that was the intention. If so, it wasn’t made clear enough. Other monologues were less memorable and the strip routines, such as they were, did at least come as a welcome relief.

    We got a whiff of the circus or music hall with the entertaining strong man routines by The Mighty Moustache (aka Sir Alexander Leopold), and there was a clever reverse strip by drag queen Mr Mistress, who defiantly takes to the stage naked and drags up before our eyes.

    The line-up is never quite the same from show to show, and this Friday (December 6th), they will be joined by Nick Stiletto, who, I am told, delivers routines that are cheeky and fun, with a deft use of props, which is certainly more in the true spirit of burlesque.

    As it is, it is a somewhat uneven evening. There is the potential for a great night out, but it needs to have a clearer idea of what it is trying to achieve. According to the strippers in Jule Styne’s “Gypsy”,

    You can sacrifice your saccro
    Working in the back row.
    Bump in a dump till you’re dead.
    Kid, you gotta have a gimmick
    If you wanna get ahead.

    Maybe it’s gimmicks that are lacking.

    Boylexe plays at the Shadow Lounge on Fridays throughout December.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Julie Madly Deeply, Trafalgar Studios

    ★★★★ | Julie Madly Deeply, Trafalgar Studios

    Julie Madly Deeply is an affectionate look at the life of one of the most iconic stars of stage and screen, Dame Julie Andrews.

    Lifelong fan, Sarah-Louise Young, already a well-known name on the cabaret circuit, quips and quotes her way through the show she wrote with an eloquent ease, interspersing anecdotes with just some of the many songs Andrews is best known for from Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and The Boy Friend.

    Young infuses the show with her natural warmth and plenty of wit, and her devotion to Andrews is evident throughout. She speaks of her with passion and charm, using her perfect diction and clear singing voice to effectively mimic the star. Young’s versatility is evident as she effortlessly jumps between characters, including Audrey Hepburn and a deliciously slurring Liza Minnelli who pops up with familiar regularly.

    Musical Director Michael Roulston plays a perfect role, supporting and guiding Young throughout. His comedic flair and wonderfully expressive manner adds a great deal, and their chemistry is clearly visible.

    The staging is sparse, with just a chair, microphone and piano, but no more is needed. The focus is entirely held by Young and Roulston, and the characters they weave into this story (including a penguin that requires some help to leave the stage).Post-interval, one more prop arrives, in the form of a truly extraordinary Alpine landscape covered dirndl. Never before have I seen a movie so accurately embodied in costume.

    There is not a dull moment in either Act, and Young joyously wraps the evening up with what can only be described as a “Sing-along-a-Julie” finale, which has even the shyest audience member singing along to a medley that reminds us all just how many of Andrews’ songs are embedded deep within us.

    A thoroughly modern retrospective which is wholly deserving of a sell-out run, Julie Madly Deeply is a witty, charming and entirely fitting tribute to a true star. I have no doubt at all that, if Julie herself were to see the show, she would be deeply flattered.

    Julie Madly Deeply plays at Trafalgar Studios until 4 January, 2014. Tickets are £20-30 from http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/julie-madly-deeply/trafalgar-studios/ and well worth every penny.

  • ALBUM REVIEW | The Overtones, Saturday Night At The Movies

    The Overtones are back with their third album, an upbeat take on a number of classic songs from the movies combined with a few others, including some original songs written for the album. Covering tracks from such films as When Harry Met Sally, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Dirty Dancing, the boys ably apply their vocal harmonies to a broad selection of songs.

    The first noticeable thing about the album is how instantly recognisable the track list is and on a quick glance you will probably recognise most of them. The title track is first on the album and sets the tone of what is to follow perfectly well. From thereon in, the album contains a number of classic songs such as “Moon River”, “Do You Love Me?” and “Pretty Woman” all of which are well executed and put together.

    Using their tight and polished vocals, the group reinvigorate the classic tracks and introduce us to some new ones – “Miss Hollywood” and “Superstar” in particular were unexpected pleasures. The album is mainly upbeat and catchy with you finding the songs feeling familiar even upon first listen. However, the group have managed to add something just different enough to the songs to ensure that the album never comes across as just straight covers, but equally that it does not stray too far from the originals to make them unrecognisable or overblown. There is also a pleasant balance between music and vocals, which allows the group’s vocal strengths to shine through.

    With the right mixture of upbeat numbers and slower ballads, this collection is easy to listen to and is, in the majority, likeable and fun. That said; there are a couple of songs which seem a little out of place and don’t really fit with the rest of the track list. Whilst “The Bare Necessitates / I Wanna Be Like You” and “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” are good enough as standalone tracks, they don’t seem to sit well with the rest of the songs and interrupt the flow of the album.

     

    Album highlights included “It Had To Be You”, “Runaway”, “Superstar” and “Shake A Tail Feather” and the whole thing was enjoyable enough. As with all music, you have to appreciate the style and genre of music, so this is not going to be an album that suits everyone. If you love your hard-core house or death metal, then you should steer well clear.

     

    However, if this is your kind of music, the overall flavour of the album is very much peppered with a 50’s tinge and fans of Do-Wop, rock ‘n’ roll and swing music will find a lot to enjoy in this album. It has a genuine feel of nostalgia to it and a pleasant, foot tapping, sing-along charm of its own.

  • NEWS: Will James Arthur appear on X-Factor this weekend?

    Thousands of people have signed an online petition to have the previous X-Factor winner James Arthur banned from singing his new single on World AIDS Day.

    It’s still unclear, as momentum grows, if James Arthur will or will not appear on the show. It seems thousands of people are still not happy with the singers behaviour over the last few weeks where he made a rap video calling a fellow rapper a ‘f**king queer’.

    James apologised for the rap saying, ‘Some of the things said in this rap can be mistaken for homophobic slurs and I assure you homophobia is something I do not believe in’.

    However some people have spoken up about there being no mistake in the language choice used.

    ‘The context was “you’re a f***ing queer” and went on to say “‘you probably want to stick your dick in me” – if that doesn’t insinuate homosexuality then what does? There’s no mistaking!’, messaged one reader on GayStarNews.

    With the performance set for World AIDS Day, some have questioned if this is appropriate as more people seem less impressed with Arthur’s apology. The big question still being asked is, will James perform or not?

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

    ★★★ | Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

    Andrew Lloyd Webber’s biblical musical continues its national tour with this colourful, energetic and enjoyable production of the enduring and well-loved family show.

    This sing-though musical tells the story of Joseph and his eleven brothers. Joseph is favoured by his father and is given a Technicolor coat, which causes his brothers to become so jealous of his favourable treatment that they take him into the desert to kill him. However, seizing an unexpected opportunity to make some money, the brothers sell him into slavery instead and Joseph is taken to Egypt where his ability to interpret dreams is put to good use by the Pharaoh. The two hour show is jam packed full of songs that you can’t help but know the words to, including “Any Dream Will Do”, “One More Angel In Heaven”, “Close Every Door” and “Jacob and Sons”.

    This quality production was much better than anticipated with the staging of the show being very well put together. There’s good use of the set and scenery with the stage constantly looking full, but never overcrowded. The universally talented cast all performed very well and sounded excellent together. The sound produced by the ensemble cast (especially the brothers) when singing together was superb and their varied voices fitted perfectly together. The casting for the show, in terms of vocal performances was spot on. In particular, Andrew Bateup (making his professional debut) stood out for his enthusiasm and vivacious performance and Rob Wilshaw provided a notable performance in the role of Joseph, handling the show’s best known numbers with aplomb.

    Visually, the show was vibrant, colourful and full of an enthusiastic and energetic cast and effective choreography. As expected, the costumes, set and lighting were all awash with a variety of colours, and the whole thing came across as a fun and lively production which was professionally put together. The lighting in particular was incredibly well done. In terms of the production and performance of the show, there was very little to criticise.

    The main issue with the show was despite the fact that the production was updated, modern and well put together, the songs themselves have not aged as well as some of Rice/Lloyd Webber’s other early productions (such as Evita). Whether this is a result of over familiarity or just the way in which musical theatre has evolved over the years, the play itself felt a little dated. That said, the show, thankfully, didn’t take itself too seriously, with a couple of knowing nods to the audience, which was a welcome addition.

    Overall, if you are looking of an evening of pleasant and undemanding entertainment, then this is a show worth seeing. The show delivers on many levels, particularly in terms of production, but also in terms of nostalgia (most people of a certain age will remember doing this show as their school play), in terms of good family entertainment and in terms of enjoyable, if fairly cheesy, fun.

    Joseph is currently playing at Sheffield Lyceum until Saturday 30th November 2013. For information and tickets, visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or visit the show’s official website at www.josephthemusical.com