Tickle the Musical ☆☆☆☆
Kings Head Theatre London

Way back in 2016 David Farrier, a New Zealand TV reporter, got hold of a story and would not let it go. This was the murky world of “competitive endurance tickling”. The documentary explored the possible legal and ethical issues raised in the production of these tickling videos which had a lucrative commercial life online.

This entertaining musical comedy by Chris Burgess (Book, Music & Lyrics) creates a fictional story from this subject and tells this tale on stage.

Straight boy Chris (James McDowall – bringing a sublime singing voice to the party) and gay Callum (Ben Brooker) are two mates in dead-end jobs in a dead-end town and dream of something more when as if by magic Davina Diamond (Amy Sutton – a truly fierce yet nuanced performance) appears. She promises them riches beyond their wildest dreams. Davina acts as a talent scout for the “purveyor of joy” Tina Tickle (Richard Watkins).

The stage is set for the rise and fall of the two boys in online competitive tickling videos. Along the way, through songs with great lyrics and melodies by Burgess, we learn the dubious business practices and morally ambiguous motives and methods within which naïve (often desperate) young men are swept along.

Director Robert McWhir creates a nice balance between real emotion (generated by a sweet coming out subplot) and fun theatrical peril created by Tina Tickle. Watkins seems to have based Tina’s appearance on that of Rocky Horror’s Frank N Furter as Tina’s imperious vocal tones, appearance and even character arc (ambivalent hero/villain/predator/mentor victim/repentant) resemble that of our favorite alien transsexual from Transylvania and which is no bad thing. There is a delicious ambivalence as to Tina’s real motives and when we do realize the full extent we revel in the delight he takes in his work. Watkins is exceptionally tall even without his seven-inch stripper heels but delivers a performance of both threat and grace and Sam Spencer-Lane‘s sparky choreography and movement direction does the rest.

The liberal use of feather accessories gives the show a cabaret feel and stunning lighting from Richard Lambert which included heavy use of high-impact colorful LEDs’s meant each scene looked different and had a crucial role in supporting the dance sequences in such a small venue.

Once the sugar rush of two beautiful nearly naked guys vigorously tickling each other on stage passes, there is just enough undercurrent of a serious debate between porn versus entertainment to satisfy an audience far more highbrow than Queergur’s reviewer..

https://www.kingsheadtheatre.com/

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REVIEW : JONNY WARD

Jonny Ward, Queerguru Contributing Editor 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)  @JonnyWard360

 

P.S. Last year Queerguru reviewed David Farrier’s original documentary TICKLED  and you can read that HERE