The Two Brewers Pub Theatre hosts this new adult panto taking us to the most epic battle ever dick-tated onstage. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if this players made a good fist of this session.
In a world (do it as deep as you can… the voice, I mean) where celebrating Christmas has become the naughtiest of games, someone longs to give the season its white coating back… First time that I hear there’s a shortage of that in Clapham, but I suppose that if we’re willing to believe in an old man giving treats to good boys at night… Wait, are we sure that this is a family-friendly celebration?! Anyway. It’s boxing day and I’m sure you’re dying to share with your friends the gifts Santa put down your chimney yesterday – just remember to wash them first. Whatever you got (cough), I don’t want to keep you waiting in one of the most joyous of days (families are gone now, after all), so I’ll be blunt and go for a quickie this time (wait for me in the second cubicle).
The adult pantos carry on all around London scene during the festive season – and probably everyday at your best mate’s from the minute you get in, too. From large and thick to short and simple, the appetite for this genre seems to never reach its peak – as we keep asking for more and more loads of such in-your-face fun… What?! I just say it like it is… Enter The Hunger Gays (as if there were other kind…), a new musical spoof of the beloved (by some…) book and film franchise, revolving about the queer tribes and their an(nu)al fight to death between a top and a bottom – subtle as f*ck (that expression never came as handy… oh, dear…).
Directed and produced by Ru Paul’s Drag Race contestant Pixie Polite, as well as cabaret performer Woe Addams, the show is an absurdly hilarious twist on the world-famous storyline – packed with dirty jokes, filthier musical theatre tributes and a lot of campy spunk… I stand by my words – or even, behind… (wink, wink). Played with s-ass (you’ll have a lot of that shoved down… uh-hum) and huge (careful…) rapport among its whole cast, the piece remains amusing from start to finish – taking us through a continuous flow of choking and gasping, the sort you’ll surely be gagging for in this type of rides… And to think I once was a church boy – oh, right…
Nonetheless, there are still a few major elements in need of polishing – those concerning both the acting and the writing. Despite its generally satisfying tools (good length, drilling power, and filled with wet stuff), some of them could ooze some more cunning and, all in all, intricacy in their craftsmanship. Keeping part of the songs’ original lyrics can work as reference and comedic effect, but it can also become a problem when the changes are reduced to basically just a word or two per line (or when those are the only ones in a full stanza). There’s not really much of a reason for the lead character to say that they should “get down to business to defeat the huns” in this universe. However, if those were the hunks instead, we’d be facing a completely different situation – and I’ll be the first one to jump in, and on…
At the same time, though the renditions are ridiculously droll and extremely engaging, too many times we see the company breaking character – something that not necessarily has to compromise the overall quality of a show like this. Yet, when it gets too frequent, it can end up doing more harm than good – especially, as for the way the puchlines and, on the whole, the performance itself land.
Yet, several shout-outs may be given to its members, the first one earned by Shar Cooterie as the villainous President Ho – boasting, without any doubt, the best vocals of the entire cast. In addition, Letitia Delish (I promise this is not an April’s Fools review) brings the house down with her uproarious portrayal of Effie Twinket, wrapped with great stamina and enhanced with quite a few ingenious and excellently timed improv moments. Finally, Sara Lynam also makes a memorable appearance as the protagonist Katniss Everqueen, endowing her role with charm and appeal through a rather fresh and engaging interpretation – thanks, primarily, to her effortless stand-up comedy tone.
With a decent deal of substance snowballing to a wild climax (you don’t need to give me the clap for this… ha!), The Hunger Gays fulfills, to an extent, our crave for grimy, slutty humour during the holiest of times, but devices a thirst trap that’s not completely able to takes out of. A more thorough approach (rough or gentle) would make its instruments work more efficiently – pumping their whole potential and solidifying every single drop of it. There’s basically two rules to follow if you want to have a great bang with the gang: you’ve got to sweat, and you’ve got think out of the box.
The Hunger Gays plays at London’s Two Brewers Pub Theatre until 29 December. Tickets are available on the following link.