Episode Guide and Music Tracks For Ja’mie Private School Girl – Episode 1 (more…)
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THEATRE REVIEW | A Hard Rain, Above The Stag
★★★ | A Hard Rain, Above The Stag
Writers Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper, well-known for their successful pantomimes at The Above The Stag Theatre, have for the first time turned their hands to drama, and this new play is the result.
A Hard Rain is set in a gay bar in New York in the days running up to the Stonewall Riots. The gay bars and clubs are run by the Mafia, who pay off a corrupt police force, which, from time to time raid the bars anyway, just to show everyone who’s boss.
This bar becomes the backdrop for the story of a disparate set of characters; the drag queen and former Vietnam soldier, Rub; the closeted mafia owner of the bar, Frank; the young single mother barmaid Angie; the kind-hearted young cop, Danny; Ruby’s young high-flying bank employee boyfriend Josh; and Jimmy, a streetwise teenager who turns tricks to make a living.
I don’t know how the collaboration between Bradfield and Harper works, whether both writers contribute to each scene, or whether each writer takes a different scene in entirety. Either way, the various individual scenes are well realised and play out very well, with a good sprinkling of witty one-liners to relieve the often gloomy nature of the scenario. The problem for me is that the various scenes did not coalesce into a coherent whole. There didn’t seem to be any direction to the narrative, no sense of it driving forward to that historic moment of the Stonewall Riots. At 90 minutes, Act One just meandered along, whereas Act II seemed rushed, as if the writers suddenly realised they had a lot of loose ends to tie up, their final point rather clumsily made. The numerous scenes meant that there were a lot of scene changes, the sheer mechanics of which continuously held up the action, hardly helping the flow, and I did wonder if the scene changes could have been simplified in some way.
Though I had reservations about the play itself, I had very few about the performances. Michael Edwards, in the central and extremely difficult role of Ruby, carefully revealed the vulnerability behind Ruby’s tough exterior. His performance was superbly seconded by a touchingly real and beautifully nuanced performance from Oliver Lynes as his boyfriend, Josh. Stephanie Willson was just perfect as the warm-hearted Angie, and James El-Sharawy a suitably cocky Jimmy, though we saw that underneath all the chutzpah, he was really just a nice kid who wanted to be liked. Neither Nigel Barber as Frank nor Rhys Jennings as Danny let the side down, though they both had less to work with, their characters less finely drawn.
Ultimately, though, what sounded like a nice idea never quite came off.
A Hard Rain plays at Above The Stag until March 30th.
Visit: http://www.abovethestag.com
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How to be more Quiche like Ja’ime Private School Girl
If you don’t know who Ja’mie is you’re just not Quiche. And if Quiche only means a hot goat’s cheese and spinach tarte from Waitrose, we shouldn’t be talking right now. We’ve come up with a little guide to help you be more Ja’mazing.
On Trendsetting
“Everyone’s going on about twerking, but I actually invented it about two years ago. Seriously, ask anyone at my school. I did it in an assembly presentation during NAIDOC Week and it spread from there.”On Self Exposure
“Every now and then I post a tit photo on my Facebook and leave it up for 24 hours to create a buzz.”On Being A Powerful Woman
“I’ve made a lot of changes around the school: the coffee machine for prefects only, no phones during school hours (except prefects) and no Asians allowed on the oval at lunch.”On Personal Wealth
“JUST because I’m rich, doesn’t mean I’m a bitch.”On Being Gracious
“When I meet girls, they’re usually really threatened straight away, right?. So then I meet and they’re like “oh my god, she’s so hot, I’m never going to be friends with her” and then I go up to them and I’m like “Hi! How you going?!” and they’re really surprised that I’m giving them the time of day.”On Charity
“Going with the AIDS thing means that people are more likely to give money because they’re going to feel really bad. If I just said it was for the formal they wouldn’t care. Do you know what I mean?”On Human Rights
“A school that bans formals is a school that bans life. Summer Heights High, you should be ashamed of yourself. Firstly, formals can give hope. They give povo people something to live for. Lack of formals in a school can seriously affect the development of a girl. Without formals, you can seriously stunt girls socially and physically.”On Sexuality
“I’d rather be a paedophile than a lesbian, seriously…”Advice For Friends
“Reduce your tits, Stop being dumb, Fix your acne and don’t be Asian”On State Education
“Thank you. And thank you to the traditional landowners of Summer Heights, the Wurundjeri people. My name is Ja’mie. J-A-apostrophe-M-I-E. Weird name, I know. But you’ll get used to it. Yes, I come from one of the most expensive private girls schools in the state, but I’m actually really cool. Please don’t be intimidated by me. People always go “Private schools create better citizens,” but I would say they create better quality citizens. Studies have shown that students from private schools are more likely to get into Uni and end up making a lot more money; while wife-beaters and rapists are nearly all public-school educated. Sorry, no offence, but it’s true.” -
Gay wedding to become a musical
One of the UK’s first gay weddings is set to be staged as a musical and filmed by Channel 4.
Channel 4 is set to broadcast one of the first gay weddings – and Stephen Fry will be introducing the event.
The wedding is between Benjamin Till and Nathan Taylor, who decided to turn their wedding day into a musical event, with sung vows, sung readings and show-stopping ensembles featuring the whole congregation of family, friends and special guests.
Benjamin and Nathan have been together 12 years and say:
“We’ve been together for nearly 12 years, and never thought we’d get the chance to get married, for real. Doing what we both do for a living has meant that we’ve spent our entire lives expressing emotion through song, so getting married in a musical, particularly one that we’re writing ourselves, felt like the most natural thing in the world.”
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OPINION | James Wharton’s View; Shut Gay Saunas
So, James Wharton, an openly gay soldier, would like all gay saunas shut down so that we no longer “feed the haters”?
Hmmmm……I wonder if he’s right? My gut tells me that shutting private premises where what happens happens behind closed doors isn’t going to stop bigots from abusing other humans, verbally or physically. If someone fundamentally doesn’t like who or what you are, will closing down a business premises actually make them think “hang about, I got you gays all wrong, come here and lets cuddle”? Cant see it myself
James claims to be “no prude” yet says that having multiple partners, in a consensual setting disgust him. The thought that saunas exists for gay men to meet and participate in whatever they want rather revolts him. Is that because he isn’t invited? Sorry, that was a flippant comment – but why does he feel he needs to comment?
Now, lets look at the flip side: we have massage parlours where straight men attend, usually for more than a massage – we all need happy ending at times! We have straight saunas that offer the same facilities as gay saunas and I don’t see anyone asking for them to shut down so that the LGBT community wont hate them, but wait, we don’t tend to abuse people for their sexuality and tend to be slightly more relaxed in our attitude towards sex and sexuality.
I find the thought that someone feels they can judge in this manner, and for it to be one of our “own” community, revolting and abhorrent. If someone feels the need to go to a sauna, who am I to condemn them? It doesn’t affect me in the slightest, it doesn’t impact me or mine so why would I call for them to close?
Surely they serve a purpose, or they wouldn’t exist? For a start, they provide employment, they also provide an outlet for some in our community who feel the need to go here rather than on the scene to meet partners. Again, who are we to judge where people go to meet others? They aren’t illegal!
James comments that surely the reason for their existence are long gone. But have they? We still have closeted people, either not ready or unwilling to come out, so somewhere they feel able to do whatever they want anonymously can’t be bad – can it? Does James live in a rose-tinted world where there are no closets and everyone can be what or who they want?
My issue is once again, the slow eating away at, for want of a better term, our freedom, our liberties, our rights to make our own choices and pick up shags where we want!
Even health and gay rights campaigners comment that closing them down would have no effect on homophobia. Surely, taking it one step further, if they closed saunas, more clandestine opportunities may be sought out, leading to more attacks and risks taken? Is that a good thing?
I do understand that they can be dangerous and risky places too – the recent death in a Manchester sauna highlighted the issues around drugs and sex. However, the issue should have been more around the drugs taken, not the venue it was done in? Yet, the sauna owners and staff were heavily criticised for the event.
As we watch in amazement at the draconian measures being implemented around the world, we should protect what we have and push for more! Hands off our saunas!
Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, it’s management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.
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Unconfirmed Reports That Iran Hanged Two Gay Men For ‘Perversion’
Activists say that two gay men have been executed in Iran for “Perversion”
The Washington Freebeacon is reporting that activists, who are tracking the situation, claim that two gay men have been hanged in Iran on Sunday and a third has been sentenced for “insulting the prophet.”
The two men were held in a prison near Rasht. Iran is still one of the only countries that has a capital punishment for homosexuality. Its legal system is based on Islamic law or sharia.
Until Sunday there had been no reports of executions in Iran for being gay since 2005, (when Mahmoud Asgari,16, and Ayaz Marhoni, 18 were publicly hanged), despite it being an activity which carries a death penalty.
The Washington Freebeacon also reports that ‘Iranian authorities have hanged 40 individuals in a two-week period. Iran is executing at least two people a day, according to activists.’
According to Banafsheh Zand, an Iranian political and human rights activist, not much is known about these executions because the Iranian authorities are sweeping the hangings ‘under the rug’.
We’ve not been able to confirm these reports.
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Investigation Opened Over £28,000 of Fake Beyoncé Tickets
The British Transport police are opening an investigation after more than 100 cases of ticket fraud reported at the Phones 4 U Arena in Manchester.
Detective Constable Mike Dermody said: “It seems that someone has been selling fake tickets to concert goers who only realise the tickets aren’t genuine when they get to the venue.
“We believe there have been more than 140 sets of fake tickets sold, though only seven victims have come forward so far.
“In most cases the tickets have sold for at least £100 each and each victim has bought at least two tickets, so we are potentially looking at a fraud worth more than £28,000.”
DC Dermody added: “Each transaction has taken place over the internet, using public selling websites, with the victims arranging to meet someone in Manchester to pick up the tickets.
“I believe the victims of this fraudster will be spread far and wide as people travel from all over the UK to see Beyonce.
“I am, therefore, appealing to anyone who has been sold fake tickets, but has not yet spoken to police to come forward.
“We have a number of leads, but need as many people as possible to get in touch.”
If you have any information about the fraudulent tickets please call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40. In all calls please quote BTP log NWA/B5 of 28/2/14.
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Gay soldier James Wharton “Shut down gay saunas”
Openly gay ex soldier James Wharton says that gay saunas should be shut down, if the gay community wants to be taken seriously.
Writing in Winq, the former soldier said:
“Sex saunas need to be history. The time has come to close them down.”
“If we don’t, we feed the haters and we hand the bigots who remain a vocal minority ammunition with which to attack us,” he said
“For me as a gay man, the notion that there exist within our communities a series of places that actively promote the convening of gay men for participation in sex of shades various and in groups of all sizes rather revolts me – and I‘ve been round the block a few times, believe me. I’m no prude, not even close, but the days when we gathered in clandestine fashion for the want of a network or a sexual outlet are surely long gone,”
CLOSURE WON’T CHANGE HOMOPHOBIA
Health and gay rights campaigners have said that closing saunas would probably have no effect on homophobia.
The independent reports that Matthew Hodson from GMFA said:
‘If someone says that they don’t like gays because we have sex with lots of partners, they’re probably just searching for an excuse to justify their prejudice. Most people with homophobic attitudes will be uncomfortable with gay men in long-term monogamous relationships too,’
Whilst Jason Warriner, clinical director for Terrence Higgins trust said:
‘It would make it more difficult for organisations like Terrence Higgins Trust to provide safer sex information, supply condoms and deliver HIV testing services among groups at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.’
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ANALYSIS: The Oscars 2014
In case you miss the SKY MOVIES TELECAST of the OSCAR CEREMONY here are some of the really gay highlights, many of which you can already catch on YOUTUBE.
ELLEN DEGENERES was back to host again after a 7-year break and kicked in to top gear from the word go with her hilarious monologue by referring to LIZA MINELLI as being represented by a female impersonator. Flash to Miss Minnelli sitting with her half sister LORNA LUFT and you can see that they do unmistakably look like a couple of Drag Queens!
The sisters were there as part of the celebration for their mother’s classic movie THE WIZARD OF OZ that was introduced by WHOOPI GOLDBERG complete with striped stockings and red Dorothy shoes. And then came PINK, looking shockingly feminine in her sparkly red dress, who simply blew the audience away with her spine-tingling version of SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, which bought the whole House to its feet.
There had been an earlier standing ovation for DARLENE LOVE who had been on stage to help accept the well-deserved BEST DOCUMENTARY OSCAR for ‘TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM’, the compelling story of all the Back Up singers who stayed out of the spotlight. Instead of a speech, Ms Love simply sang her thanks in her own inimitable style
Kudos to JARED LETO for his stirring tribute to his mother when he won his BEST SUPPORTING OSCAR for playing a transgender character in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, and for the very moving dedication of his Award to all the people that had died from AIDS. A similar and equally touching gesture was made by ADRUITHA LEE & ROBIN MATHEWS who won OSCARS for HAIR & MAKE UP for the same movie.
Most excited winner was young Kenyan actress LUPITA NYONG’O who picked up BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS OSCAR for her part in 12 YEARS A STAGE proving that well-deserved unknown actors can still break through. Her exuberance was matched by her British Director STEVE MCQUEEN when the movie beat the favourite (GRAVITY) to pick up the BEST PICTURE OSCAR and as the closing credits of the Telecast roll he is literally jumping up and down on the stage with sheer joy like a kid.
Most heartfelt and genuine speech was from CATE BLANCHETT when she picked up her BEST ACTRESS OSCAR, and for my money, her elegant beaded GIORGIO ARMANI DRESS was the best of the bunch too.
A no-thrills BETTE MIDLER making her very first singing appearance at the OSCARS followed the IN MEMORIUM TRIBUTE to all the Hollywood greats who have gone to the movie theatre in the sky this year, with her anthem WIND BENEATH MY WINGS that ensured there were not many dry eyes in the audience.
In was an fun albeit overly long evening with none of the usual big production numbers and had ELLEN mixing in with the star –studied audience a great deal … the popularity of hilarious ‘selfie’ she shot on her phone with MERYL STREEP and other front row stars actually managed ti bring TWITTER to a grinding halt. The whole night was just like the running gag had about JONAH HILL literally exposing himself in a scene in THE WOLF OF WALL STREET that Ellen declared was something she had not seen in a very long time.
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Jared Leto wins Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club
Jared Leto has won an Oscar for best Supporting Actor for his role in Dallas Buyers Club.
Jared Leto, who played trans character Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club has won an actor for the role. The movie which THEGAYUK gave five stars, follows the actions of Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) after he learns that he has AIDS.
He befriends Rayon, played by Jared Leto in order to grow his client base for his Buyers Club.
Leto’s Oscar win means that he is added to hall of fame for actors who have bagged an Oscar or a nomination for portraying an LGBT character.
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FILM REVIEW | In Bloom
★★★★ | In Bloom
This is the rather gritty story of a hip very young gay couple in Chicago’s ‘Boystown’ coming to terms with how tough one’s first love can be.
Kurt is a small time drug dealer who supplies pot to his peers, whilst Paul his boyfriend of two years has a dead-end job in a local grocery store that he can barely tolerate. When the long summer starts, they are having fun and very much into each other and seem the perfect couple, but some seven months later they have separated and can barely talk to each other.
Everything had been going well with them until one night one of Kurt’s good-looking customers puts the moves on him, and although he initially resists Kevin’s advances does it opens his mind to the possibility that there is more to life outside of his cosy relationship with Paul. Suddenly that starts to look painfully inadequate to him now, and in a fit of impulse he starts a ‘break-up’ that he will only regret when it is far too late.
If that is not bad enough, the real world outside is even scarier than usual right now as there is a serial killer on the prowl whose victims have all been young gay man from the area. With Kurt making late night deliveries to hip parties all over he is probably more at risk than most.
This look at contemporary edgy youth culture is the work of a 22 year newbie filmmaker Chris Michael Birkmeier who based this work of fiction on his own story of when he broke up with his first ever boyfriend. The plot is steeped in innocence and naivete and full of well-meaning intentions. It’s a remarkable debut feature and as such one can overlook the slow-moving story line that almost grinds to a halt at times.
Credit too for the great wee cast full of untried talent, and very good photography too.
The comparisons between Mr Birkmeier and the French/Canadian wunderkind Xavier Dolan who picked up Awards at Cannes for his first movie at the tender age of 19, are natural. Especially when Birkmeier makes no bones of the fact that he is a big Dolan fan. But there is very little similarity in their work and this movie is of a much simpler construction and far more straightforward. The two young filmmaker’s works complement each other, rather than complete.
No doubt at all that C M Birkmeier (as he bills himself) is one to watch in new queer cinema, and I for one cannot wait to see how he follows this fascinating first movie.