AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE - THEATRE REVIEW

AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: One Night Only at New Alexandra Theatre, Tour Ongoing

Performance Reviewed: Saturday 28 September 2013

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Burlesque as both a concept and an art form is one that has undeniably grown in popularity and awareness of late, and yet despite this, the abundance of differing perspectives and opinions on what exactly constitutes Burlesque, coupled with external influences such as the insipid 2010 movie of the same name (from which this production thankfully only lifts the movies highlight, it's opening number), continues to lead to some confusion. Many read it as being nothing more than stripping and adult entertainment set to music, others conjure up images of elaborate costumes and spectacle toe-dipping into almost carnival, circus-esque levels of flamboyance. 

UP4AMEET? - Theatre Review

UP4AMEET? AT THE CRESCENT THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Monday 22 - Wednesday 24 July (at Crescent Theatre, tour ongoing)
Performance Reviewed: Wednesday 24 July

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

PLEASE NOTE: Although this review does not contain adult language or any full nudity, it does refer to the adult content within the show. As such, reader discretion should be advised.

From it’s brazenly homoerotic posters and marketing through to the first (of many) flashes of no-holds-barred, full-frontal male nudity within literally the opening thirty seconds, Up4aMeet makes no qualms about the kind of show it is going to be. Fabulously gratuitous, gloriously camp and peppered with an acerbic wit and cheeky tone that keeps it all feeling knowingly tongue-in-cheek, this is the perfect kind of guilty pleasure theatre experience for the Grindr age that deserves to become something of a gay cult favourite.

The show as a whole has an air of sassy 90’s Brit-Com about it, echoes of Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and even Absolutely Fabulous in tone and execution, by way of Russell T Davies’ seminal gay drama Queer as Folk (which I did notice an orgasm quip had been borrowed from). It’s decidedly gay-oriented, and it’s certainly difficult to envisage those unfamiliar with the likes of Grindr (replaced here by identical phone app C*ckShop), or the likes of ‘NSA’ and questions of ‘Top or Bottom?’ getting as much mileage and investment out of the show. That being said, there is still plenty of witty interplay, casual nudity and general fun and silliness to make Up4aMeet an easy recommendation for a shamelessly entertaining night out.