Directed and produced by Denholm Spurr, kindly deciding that he and his hottest friend would usher in the audience wearing nothing but skin tight Berlin bratwurst smugglers, Happily Ever Poofter is an updated version of the show that tickled audiences at the RVT and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

At its heart the show does that thing which makes Disney a success, it makes big scary adult emotions child size. In this case taking the fear of not fitting in and turning it into a celebration of coming out. Our fairytale hero Prince Henry goes on a quest to find his alternate happy ending in a kingdom where he is expected to only find true love with a princess. He eventually discovers a place where he fits in and learns that ‘It only takes one person to write a fairy tale but it takes a community to make it magical’ 

However, if its heart is in the traditional place then its ankles are firmly where fairytale princes and princesses normally put their earrings. This is the legs in the air dirty version of Disney. On his way to find a His & His happily ever after Prince Henry is both high and a hoe with all seven of the less than snow white dwarves. We didn’t quite catch their names but they could have been Sleazy, Cokey, Dopey, Pumpy, Assful, Happy and straight to the Doc afterwards.

This one-man show is straddled over by the energetically elastic Rich Watkins. He preens, pirouettes and even puppets, winning over the audience while successfully satirizing both the conservative morals of Disney and the toxic intoxication of the commercial gay scene. Be prepared for singing, dancing and a little audience participation. 

Like a good margarita the show sneaks up on the audience with a bit of fruity syrup and a salty rim. Get yourself a drink, take a dirty minded friend, and post plenty of pics of the ushers.

Kings Head Theatre Until 8th February 

https://www.happilyeverpoofter.com/

Review by Andrew Hebden

Queerguru Correspondent ANDREW HEBDEN is a MEDIA & CULTURAL STUDIES graduate spending his career between London, Beijing and NYC as an expert in media and social trends. As part of the expanding minimalist FIRE movement he recently returned to the UK and lives in Soho. He devotes as much time as possible to the movies, theatre and the gym. His favorite thing is to try something (anything) new every day.