Queerguru’s Ris Fatah’s ★★★★★ review of the London Production of the Tony Award Winning Musical A STRANGE LOOP

The Broadway smash-hit musical, A Strange Loop, is now on until September at London’s excellent Barbican Theatre. This outrageous, yet heartfelt, queer musical, written by Michael R Jackson and directed by Stephen Brackett, has won every Best Musical award on Broadway including the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize. It’s backed by a host of big names including Stephen Spielberg, Jennifer Hudson and Billy Porter.

We meet Usher, a young, gay, big Black writer, who hates his day job, so writes a musical about a young, gay, big Black writer who’s writing a musical about a young, gay, big Black writer – the strange loop. Lead actor Kyle Ramar Freeman (who leads the play in New York) is joined on stage by a British cast of Six Thoughts – the physical manifestation of Usher’s internal monologue and self-doubt, one of whom is his Daily Self-Loathing. This talented supporting cast includes Sharlene Hector, lead vocalist for Basement Jaxx. Black America features strongly during Usher’s writing experience as he is pulled into different directions by his flawed Southern family, the homophobic Church, his Grindr encounters and the influence of Tyler Perry on black American culture. The script and songs are equally shocking and honest. “Did they really just say that?” will regularly come into your mind as extreme sexual and racial references abound. The talented cast makes the most of the candid, quick-witted script and is complemented by some amazing costumes and a fabulous set. The audience is taken on a journey which at one point involves clapping along in front of a huge blood-red HIV+ sign whilst a gospel singer chants ‘AIDS is God’s punishment!’ 

This play is a very funny, intimate journey through desire and identity toward self-acceptance amidst internal conflict, a subject we can all relate to. Last night’s full house loved it and the standing ovation was well-deserved. One of this year’s must-sees.

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