Last night Elliot, Jonathan, Darce and I went to see the powerful 80s AIDS one-man show Cruise at the Apollo theatre in London’s glitzy West End.
The same show Stuart and I saw last year, which we rather cynically dubbed "It’s A Sin : The Musical", Cruise is sort of set in contemporary London but also on February 29th, 1988 in Soho, London.
Recently nominated for the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Play and following rave reviews, this is the true story of what should have been Michael Spencer’s last night on earth. It’s great. Better than great. A thrilling tour de force.
When he’s diagnosed with HIV in 1984, Michael is told he’ll have four years to live – at most. So, with the clock ticking, he and his partner Slutty Dave decide to sell their house, flog the car, and spend everything they have to party like it’s the last days of Rome. When Dave dies two years later, Michael doubles down on his hedonistic ways, spending what little he has on drink and drugs.
On the last night of his four-year countdown – the 29th February, 1988 – Michael decides to go out with a bang. He puts on his favourite jacket, heads for Soho, and embarks on a long night of farewells. He says his goodbyes, dances, sings, and says yes to everything and everyone. Then, with all his affairs taken care of, Michael promptly… survives.
Michael got lucky. He’s been given the gift of life; but what kind of life can he now live?
Written and performed by Jack Holden (War Horse, Ink) with vast charm, empathy and energy, Cruise is a celebration of queer culture; a kaleidoscopic musical and spoken word tribute to the veterans of the AIDS crisis; an urgent piece of theatre, with an irresistible 80s soundtrack. We laughed, we almost cried, but certainly were inspired to live every day as if it’s our last.
The show is directed with inventive control by Bronagh Lagan and features a pulse-quickening, period-pastiche electro soundtrack performed live by John Elliott.
Recommended.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.