FRANKS CLOSET ⚝⚝⚝⚝⚝
UNION THEATRE, LONDON
If you love divas, dresses, declarations of love, and dancing girls, then head down to London’s Union Theatre. This month, theatre founder Sasha Regan directs Frank’s Closet, a wonderfully camp extravaganza, written and composed by Stuart Wood.
Frank (Andy Moss, Hollyoaks) is about to get married but his fiancé has ordered him to get rid of his collection of glamorous gowns. These have been painstakingly collected over time, each of which has special memories inspired by his love of iconic divas. Is this one relationship compromise too far? Frank is confused but is visited in turn by seven different divas connected to the dresses – ranging from Agnetha from Abba through to Judy Garland and Karen Carpenter – who give him advice on how to deal with the situation. Will love save the day, or will Frank decide to ditch his man at the altar?
The show begins in the theatre bar where Sheila Blige (Paul Toulson) warms up the crowd with humorous naughty repartee. The main event sees Frank joined on stage by four fabulous gaiety girls (Sarah Freer, Olivia McBride, Jack Rose and Oliver Bradley). I loved these girls; such amazing charisma and energy. They made the show for me; I’d pay just to watch them alone on stage. The seven divas (Luke Farrugia) then visit in turn between Frank’s look back on his life to date and his hopes for the future. Frank’s heartfelt journey from small-town England to a big city is one many queers will relate to, and the audience is left wanting to hug him and wish him the best. Live piano, trombone and trumpet players accompany the musical numbers. Catherine Phelps’ fun, cartoony, music hall-like staging sets the tone. Great costumes and playful make-up prevail and the colorful acts feel like Christmas combined with the classic BBC TV variety show The Good Old Days. A right old London knees-up!
Frank’s Closet is on at the Union Theatre, 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR until 30th March 2024
Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah
Labels: 2024, Franks Closet, London, review, Ris Fatah, Sasha Regan, Stuart Wood, Union Theatre
