THEGAYUK

Tag: UK

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Frogs, Jermyn Street Theatre

    ★★★ | The Frogs, Jermyn Street Theatre

    The-Friogs-2-THE-FROGS-1-George-Rae-Zanthia-and-Michael-Matus-Dionysos-and-cast-Photo-David-Ovenden1

    Stephen Sondheim is the grand master of some of the wittiest, campest and catchiest musical theatre numbers of all time. He’s also still going strong and still writing at 86. His back catalogue is staggering with Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods and Company to name a few, so it’s exciting to see a rarely revived 1974 musical re-surface.

    There’s always a worry that there’s a reason a musical stayed under the water (be warned, the ‘frog’ puns are just too easy to resist) and in this case, it’s easy to see why this one floundered and never quite hit the shoreline.

    The story is based on an ancient Greek comedy and concerns a demi-god and his slave who decide to travel to the underworld to bring back a great writer. It’s as silly a story as it sounds and a mad musical but one with a timely political undertone about the role of the arts in society. The chorus sidle on and off the stage playing a variety of parts, jazz-handed and legs crossing and high-kicking in the tiny space of The Jermyn Street Theatre. Dionysos and his slave have some great interactions but the songs are sparse with long discourses in between about theatre and the arts. It sounds dull but isn’t at all, apart from a peculiar piece in the second act that slackens the pace. This being Sondheim, the lyrics are densely packed and razor sharp. It can feel like a list of ‘in’ jokes at times with riffs on theatre etiquette and the behaviour of actors but they’re funny ‘in’ jokes nonetheless. Michael Matus as Dionysos is a musical theatre stalwart/legend and it’s a privilege to see him perform in such an intimate venue.

    The Frogs was originally performed in a swimming pool with Sigourney Weaver and Meryl Streep splashing around amongst the cast. According to Sondheim, the acoustics made it sound like it was being sung in a urinal and it bombed. Nathan Lane (The Birdcage, The Producers and The Good Wife) re-invigorated the play in 2004 but still; it’s a difficult beast.

    If like me you’re a Sondheim fanatic then you’ll love this. If you’re not initiated then it might feel like a drag.

     

    The Frogs plays at the Jermyn Street Theatre until 8th April 2017

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Stepping Out

    THEATRE REVIEW | Stepping Out

    ★★ | Stepping Out, Vaudeville Theatre, London

     

    Stepping Out steps into the West End again but it’s on the wrong foot and it’s not a very exciting show.

    First staged in the West End in 1984 and running for three years and winning an Evening Standard Comedy Award, Stepping Out was then made into a 1991 movie starring Liza Minnelli. It now returns to the West End in a new production starring Amanda Holden and Tracey-Ann Oberman among others playing characters from various backgrounds who attend a weekly dance and tap class. They also meddle – no surprise – into each others personal lives. Holden is Vera, a wealthy woman who seems to have nothing better to do because her whole life revolves around her husband who apparently spends lots and lots of time with their teenage daughter. Then there is Oberman who plays the brash Maxine, and who gets all the best lines in the show. Anna-Jane Casey is Mavis, the dance teacher who is a bit frustrated, not only because her students can’t dance but also because she’s got issues in her personal life (Tamzin Outhwaite had to pull out of this role temporarily because of a broken foot). So Stepping Out centres around the seven women (and one man – Dominic Rowan as Geoffrey) plus the piano player (a wonderful Judith Barker) as they dance and talk but then get the opportunity (of a lifetime!!!) to perform at a charity show. Wow, how exciting! Will they be ready for the show in time? Will one of the students not drop her hat like she’s done many times in rehearsals? Will more dark secrets come out and, god forbid, will one of the woman pull down the towel where Geoffrey is changing behind to add a bit of excitement to this show because this show has no excitement at all?

    It’s The Full Monty without the Monty! Sure, the women do their best to get ready for the big charity show, but it’s hardly worth our time. We really don’t get to completely know, or sympathize, with the characters, and only a couple are likeable (Sandra Marvin brings a bit of sass to her role as the token black woman – Rose), and Oberman is wonderful, but there’s not really a whole lot to love in this production. Rowan is one note – not at all attractive or likeable as the lone man – he’s a widow but it would’ve been nice to put him in some sort of romance with one of the ladies. Written by Richard Harris in 1984, with this version directed by West End producer wonderwoman Maria Friedman, Stepping Out, which will be playing at the Vaudeville Theatre until June 17, 2017, probably won’t last that long. Do yourself a favour and just step right past the theatre.

    Book tickets now

     

     

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | La Cage Aux Folles

    THEATRE REVIEW | La Cage Aux Folles

    ★★★ | La Cage Aux Folles

    La Cage aux Folles Theatre tour review
    CREDIT: Pamela Raith

    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.

    La Cage aux Folles Theatre tour review
    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

  • Lucy Spraggan hurt in vicious attack after Brighton gig

    Singer-songwriter Lucy Spaggan was attacked after a gig in Brighton, leaving her with cuts and bruises.

    Lucy Spraggan, who came to fame during X Factor in 2012, published a picture of her clutching a clump of her hair and face full of cuts and bruises after she left a gig in Brighton.

    Lucy, along with her wife and her guitarist were assaulted by people unknown which left her with whiplash and cuts and bruises on her face. She told her fans on Twitter that Sussex Police had been informed and had been “amazing”.

    Talking about her attack she said,

    “Was attacked tonight after the show inBrightonn, along with my guitarist and wife.
    #SussexPolice have been amazing and are pursuing a charge.

    “Got a bit of whiplash and a few bruises but we’re all good. Scary shit, man. Be safe out there!”

     

  • Physical homophobic attack on two men in Oxford

    Police investigators in Oxford are appealing to the general public for information after two men were verbally and physically attacked in Oxford in February.

    Thames Valley police are appealing for information following a verbal attack on two men in Oxford on the 15th February, at 3 AM in the morning, following Valentine’s day.

    On 15 February at around 3 AM, three people were driving along Park End Street when they began to shout homophobic abuse at a man and his friends who were out on the street.

    The car then stopped and an alleged physical altercation took place between two offenders and the victim before the offenders escaped in their vehicle.

    This is the second homophobic incident recorded for Valentine’s night. The first was a physical assault on two boyfriends on a London-bound train in Ealing.

    Fortunately, the victim, a 29-year-old man, did not sustain any injuries during the incident.

    Investigating officer, PC Barry Duplock, based at Cowley Police station, said,

    “We would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident or recognises these people or the car as they may have information which is vital to the investigation.”

    If you have any information please contact PC Duplock via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

    If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 quoting reference ‘43170045600’, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Yank! The Musical

    ★★★★ | Yank! The Musical

    Yank! The Musical review
    credit Anthony Robling

    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.

    The tropes surrounding institutions and homophobia couldn’t be more timely. In recent years we’ve seen the legalisation of gay marriage, the story of Alan Turing been turned into a Hollywood film, and scores of gay men being posthumously pardoned for sexual offence crimes.

    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

  • THEATRE REVIEW | One Love: The Bob Marley Musical, The Birmingham Rep

    ★★★★★ | One Love: The Bob Marley Musical

    Played with your heartstrings and lullabied your soul

    © Helen Maybanks

    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!

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Dr Frankenstein – National Tour

    THEATRE REVIEW | Dr Frankenstein – National Tour

    ★★ | Dr Frankenstein – National Tour

    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.

    Dr Frankenstein plays at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre (www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk) until 15th March 2017  before continuing on its national tour. Visit www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/dr-frankenstein-tour for further details.

     

     

  • Man fighting for his life after being punched outside gay bar in London

    Man fighting for his life after being punched outside gay bar in London

    A man is fighting for his life after an alleged “one punch” attack outside a gay bar in central London.

    Admiral Duncan
    CREDIT: TheGayUK

    A man has been hospitalised and reportedly fighting for his life after been knocked unconscious outside the Admiral Duncan gay pub in Soho, London. According to witnesses, a fight broke out before the 39-year-old man was allegedly punched, just once, before falling to the ground where he lay unconscious.

    The victim was drinking with friends inside the pub before the alleged attack. An ambulance was called and the victim was taken to a nearby hospital.

    His condition has been reported as critical but stable.

    ALSO READ:

     

    The Metropolitan Police are not treating this attack as a homophobic crime and arrested a 23-year-old in the early hours of this morning (16th March) on suspicion of GBH. They said, “He remains in custody at an east London police station”.

     

     

  • Man fined for shouting homophobic abuse in Glasgow

    A man has been fined after shouting homophobic abuse toward a group of people in Glasgow.

    © claudiodivizia Depositphotos

    Thomas Morin, 66, was handed a £500 fine by the Glasgow Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to shouting homophobic abuse at a number of people in Glasgow at the Queen Street station on the 4th March.

    Appearing in court six days later the man was fined £500 after he pleaded guilty.

    Arresting officer PC Alan Kavanagh, said,

     “Targeting anyone with intimidating abuse because of who they are is disgusting and we will never tolerate it. Our officers were patrolling the station when we heard his comments so were quickly able to detain him and bring him before the courts. 

    “I am pleased that Morin was handed this fine and I hope he thinks again before acting in such an offensive way.

    “If anyone ever experiences homophobic or hate related abuse I would encourage them to report it to BTP. You can send a text discreetly to 61016 and we will investigate”.

  • Another “homophobic” assault on London’s transport system

    Another “homophobic” assault on London’s transport system

    Police are looking to speak to a man in connection with a “homophobic” and “racist” incident in London.

    british transport police pimlico homophobia

    British Transport Police are looking to speaking to a man in connection to an incident in London, which they are calling a ” homophobic and racist incident”.

    Two members of the public were allegedly subjected to homophobic and racist language during the incident which took place on Friday 10th March.

    The police report that an elderly man was pushed off a train, and members of the public who tried to intervene were abused with homophobic and racist language. A man travelling on the service apparently became loud and abusive and pushed an elderly man from the train at Victoria.

    ALSO READ:

     

    The report states that members of the public, a 33-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, challenged the offender’s behaviour and the man verbally used them with racist and homophobic language.

    The incident happened on Friday 10 March at around 1.30pm, on the Victoria line southbound between Green Park and Pimlico.

    Officers would like to speak to the man shown in the CCTV image as he may have information which could help with the investigation.

    If you recognise him, please contact British Transport Police by calling 0800 40 50 40 or text information to 61016, quoting reference number 194 11/03/17.