Erik Ransom’s music and lyrics may not always hit Sondheim’s stride (despite the occasional dubiously-similar refrain and couplet), but he has certainly crammed as many gay dating-app tropes and references into a 2 hour show as is humanly possible — and the results are undeniably entertaining.In true Frankenfurter-style, Grindr assumes a pseudo-demonic persona as he/she/they/them/it/who cares(?) bestrides the small Union Theatre stage like a colossus, bedecked in raven feathers and six-inch heels. Christian Lunn traverses the thin line between menacing ethereal deity and pervy-drag act to pull-off (oooerr matron) something of a coup as the sinister presence which oversees the on-stage shenanigans. Four users of the hook-up phone app intermingle and share experiences whilst exchanging bodily fluids and over the course of two hours, they also experience romance, infidelity, hypocrisy, secrecy, and familial problems of the closeted Tory Councillor variety.
Theatre makers make choices, just as theatregoers also make choices. What to present? What to go see? Here, much of the decision-making is done for you, so if you’re a gay man (or an honorary member of the clique like Su Pollard who seemed to have a ball on opening night), you’ll love it. If you consider yourself a Thatcherite and were a latent admirer of ultra-prude Mary Whitehouse, perhaps less so!
The small set composed of gothic arches, video back projections and game show light box framing, is a stylish response to the intimate confines of the Union and the cast, crew and creatives (including the small above-stage band) work wonders, given the space limitations.
The run is due to end on 8th July so if it appeals, shimmy along and let director/choreographer William Spencer’s cast — James Aymon, Santino Zapico, Dereck Walker, Billy J Vale, James Lowrie, Grant Jackson, and the aforementioned Christian Lunn — entertain, shock and amuse you.
