Author queerguruPosted on Categories queermatterThe View UpStairs ☆☆☆ Soho Theatre, London The real life event forming the basis and inspiration for this musical is the arson attack in 1973 on a queer bar in New Orleans, killing 32 people (mostly gay men); woefully underreported at the time due to strong levels of societal homophobia. In 1973, 7 out … Continue reading
Author queerguruPosted on Categories queermatterTilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist ☆☆☆☆☆ The Vault Festival Walt (BYRON LANE, who also wrote the script) is at the end of his tether. He hates his job, his cheating boyfriend has dumped him, and the burger he just had delivered has pickles on it, which he … Continue reading
Author queerguruPosted on Categories queermatterPeter Groom, Dietrich: Natural Duty ☆☆☆☆☆ Wilton’s Music Hall, London What is the enduring appeal of Marlene Dietrich? What makes her still so bewitching? Especially to queers? Peter Groom’s one (wo)man show Dietrich: Natural Duty, currently on at Wilton’s Music Hall in East London, certainly goes some way to answering that. The ethereal beauty, … Continue reading
Author queerguruPosted on Categories queermatterUNDETECTABLE ☆☆☆☆☆ KINGS HEAD THEATRE It is extraordinary to think that perhaps within the living memory of some fellow theatregoers, that the Lord Chamberlain would have censored the very concept of Undetectable, let alone the practical reality of it on stage. A Taste of Honey (Royal Court Theatre 1958) apparently caused a furore amongst … Continue reading
Author queerguruPosted on Categories queermatterStrike Up The Band ☆☆☆ Upstairs at the Gatehouse It has to be one of the more unusual topics for a musical: a quintessential American business magnate (making cheese – for comedy value!) manipulates the US Government into war with tiny neutral Switzerland in order to protect his profits. As the programme notes suggest … Continue reading