GUY THE MUSICAL ☆
The Bunker Theatre
20th June 2018

Guy the Musical promises much but woefully under delivers. Its subject matter has great potential examining the harsh world of app-based hook-ups – as the programme notes state its ‘the sexier side of the zeitgeist’.

We meet Guy a ‘gay, fat, socially awkward millennial who’s looking for love on an app’ (played with sensitivity and restraint by Brendan Matthew). We follow his journey including an ill-advised catfishing incident and meet the characters (narcissists and racists) and challenging situations he must navigate in order to find love.

The young cast all seem to have solid training and some decent credits behind them but this can’t save them from an electronic score that starts out as Bieber-bland, becomes gratingly thin and ends up unbearable. Other disappointments include the decision for Brendan Matthew to speak some of his lyrics. This is neither the artistic statement of sprechgesang or rap but just suggests the actor has forgotten the melody.

Seann Miley-Moore (playing Aziz the warm-hearted Asian gym bunny) gives by far the stand out performance. He brings energy, precision, and charisma to every scene he’s in. His character acts as Fairy Godmother to Guys Cinderella but also has the most to say on fairly substantial issues such as the racism, ageism, and body shaming on such apps – he remarks memorably “…thin white always wins”.

The lighting by Rajiv Pattani occasionally rises above the functional by creating atmosphere and helps in the change of location. There is no set design save for some seating cubes (last seen in Grotty here a few weeks ago – at least they’re getting work dear!) which the cast repeatedly trip over and indicates the show is under-rehearsed as well as underdeveloped. The house was actually 80% full tonight but sat in mostly stony silence throughout. Like Queerguru, they will be swiping left.

Music by Stephen Hyde

Lyrics & Book by Leoe Mercer
as part of BREAKING OUT

REVIEW: JONNY WARD

Jonny Ward, Queerguru London Correspondent is a drama graduate but has worked backstage for many years at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The 02, Southbank Centre and is currently at The National Theatre. He lives in Hoxton, London and is delighted to check out the latest, the hottest and the downright dodgy in queer culture for Queerguru. (P.S. He is currently single)

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