Queer Trilogy

A Sticky Season

Jack Donald’s 60 minutes play A Sticky Season switches between what appears to be his own coming out dialogue, a brief history about two iconic famous gay writers Alan Ginsberg and Joe Owton and what sounded like the original news report of the day the law changed to recognise and accept homosexuality as no longer being illegal.

Fruit is the dominant theme running throughout. In the beginning, he reflects on his experience of examining fruit trees near his home last August, where he also reflects on his own sexual awakening. There are forbidden fruit references, for example, using a banana as a phallic symbol which the cast shared among themselves as it was eaten.

Marcus McManus and Rosie-Lea Sparkle never spoke throughout the performance. Their acting abilities were extremely good. McManus’s performance was captivating when he mimed through his roles as the various male gay encounters. Although never explicit you fully understood what was taking place during the intimate moments.

The dance club scenes in San Francisco were well choreographed, Mcmanus and Sparkle danced in sync changing from fast to slow motion in perfectly in time with each other. Actions certainly spoke louder than words for these talented young actors.

Donald’s use of music and singing divided the play up. Using these different devices to engage with the audience and keep it entertaining as well as informative. An unusual piece of theatre cleverly composed.

Cast

Jack Donald

Marcus McManus

Rosie-Lea Sparkle

Director

Pollyanna Newcombe

@Bliss Brutal

Minor Disruptions

An interactive theatre performance by Katie Paterson. Her ability to entertain while questioning was a usual platform to use. However, it worked well.

The stage was dressed with toys each representing a gender-specific role and various other random items, which became obvious as the play developed. Through her props and own experiences when growing up, she questions how gender is taught to a child. Questioning how and why children are taught to think and learn in this manner of what is expected of them rather than what they feel.

Inviting the audience to play with the props at the end of her show caused a lot of laughter. Members sprayed each other with water, messed about with Jenga and touched their inner child.

Cast

Katie Paterson

@KatieCPaterson

Crystal Bollix presents The Bitch Ball

As the title suggests the use of the word Bitch took a prominent place throughout the dialogue of this performance.

Alexandra Christie dressed in her extremely uncoordinated and obscure outfit ranging from a pair of jeans with one leg, see-through fishnet tights with extra holes on the other leg and a netted top with plaster crosses covering her nipples to a large pink wig. Set the scene for her extrovert presence on the stage.

With the aid of many different songs containing the lyrics bitch. She went on to show how the word can change between a positive meaning to becoming an insult. Lip syncing and acting as she acted out the different emotions evoked by one small word.

Her companion who plays the keyboard and aids her performance has been created as her polar opposite dressed smartly in black, little if any makeup and a plain hairstyle.

Cast

Alexandra Christle

Lena Stahl

Director

Kate Bauer

@CrystalBollix

@Applecandra

Minor Disruptions and Crystal Bollix are both performing at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Both shows are examples of work you expect to see there. Quirky, up to date themes and entertaining.

19th-23rd March 2019

At the
Drayton Arms Theatre
153 Old Brompton Road
London
SW5 0LJ