CULTURE
Our Gay Theatre Festival Top Ten!
We've had a good old trawl through the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival programme and checked reviews of the shows on offer on the web to come up with the ultimate guide to what to see...
1. CORPUS CHRISTI
May 12 - 17, Smock Alley Studio, 8pm
Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi is a re-telling of the Jesus story with a ‘twist’ (namely with Jesus as a gay man living in 1950’s Corpus Christi, Texas). Opening in 1998 to bomb threats and protests, this revival has played to sell-out audiences across the globe. McNally says the play is “meant to enlarge people’s understanding of the divinity of each of us and attempt to lessen that feeling of alienation where gay men and women are spiritual ‘heroes’ as well”. Check out this month’s GCN for a full and frank interview with the man behind the controversy!
2. THE TRUMAN CAPOTE TALKSHOW
May 5 - 10, The New Theatre, 3pm & 8pm
The dual biopics of Truman Capote (Capote and the far superior, Infamous) served to revive interest in the man hailed by many as one of the greatest writers of all time.
Despite his success – both critical and financial, Capote was chronically self destructive and finally, after a lifetime spent charming everyone he met from the Queen Mother to Humphrey Bogart, he succeeded in ending his life in an alcoholic stupor.
Presented in a talk-show format, Bob Kingdom’s portrayal of Capote’s tragic but touching story has captivated audiences and garnered awards all over the world. This is a final chance to catch the show as it makes its farewell tour giving audiences one last chance to share in a unique, bitchy, chic and heart-breaking evening with the infamous Truman Capote.
3. THE EYES OF BABYLON
May 5 - 10, Project Arts Centre (The Cube), 3pm & 7.45pm
A one-man show by former Marine, Lance Corporal Jeff Key, who controversially ‘came out’ on CNN in response the wrongs of US Policy in Iraq. This thought provoking play catalogues his personal struggle to reconcile being part of a war he discovers is illegal and immoral with his profound commitment to avenging 9/11. We see the changing conscience of a soldier being required to take innocent life for corporate gain, to creating a life of political activism and philanthropy.
4. YESTERDAY, WHEN I WAS YOUNG
May 5 - 10, Theatre@105 Capel Street, 3pm & 8pm
The comedic story of Josie Pickering, an ordinary British hausfrau who makes the transition from the kitchen sink to the darkroom dungeon in her quest to become a lesbian dominatrix. After escaping her marriage she discovers the secret world of Manchester’s gay village, finding a new life of butches and femmes and unashamedly embraces her sexuality. So begins Josie’s transformation into a whip-cracking mistress of the night and the world of slaves, bondage, a little bit of cling-film and a friend called Brenda.
5. THE GIRLY SIDE OF BUTCH
May 5 - 10, The Project Arts Centre (Space Upstairs), 4.30pm and 9.45pm
Fact: Australian accents are funny. Another fact: Australian drag queens are even funnier. Enter Rochelle, Fifi and Vonni – three Aussie TV icons in their hilarious cabaret show, which takes the audience on a journey from the hey day of ‘Les Girls’ when gender bending was a mystery to all, to sharing their private lives, loves, struggles and outrageous showbiz stories. From Casinos and show stages worldwide, Rochelle and Fifi began as male singer dancers, soon donning a wig and stilettos, while Vonni began as a stripper working in Sydney’s notorious Kings Cross. You laugh, cry and cheer at this candid insight into the life of Feathers, Sequins and Drag.
6. THE STORY OF ZRAZY
May 11 & 18, The George, 4.30pm
Many hepcats will know Zrazy from their weekly performances in The George, but few know of the dizzying highs and crushing lows suffered by Ireland’s leading lesbian jazz duo. How did this unlikely duo achieve fame and respect in music in Ireland? The story unfolds over two weekends with live performances of some of their greatest hit songs.
7. CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY
May 12 - 17, The New Theatre
The true story of Steven Fales, a sixth-generation Utah Mormon who recounts the details of his rather Un-Mormonly fall from grace by way of excommunication, divorce, prostitution and drugs. Directed by Tony Award-winner, Jack Hofsiss, this off-Broadway hit is sexy and harrowing, told with humour, song and The Book of Mormon. More informative than Joseph Smith’s first encounter with the Nephites. Confused? All will be revealed..
8. THE NIGHT FAIRIES
May 5 - 10, Theatre@105 Capel Street
250,000 forgotten gays died in Nazi concentration camps and their persecution continued after the war. The Night Fairies follows Dirk, a young Belgian student was arrested and taken to the German internment camp of Sachsenhausen. The play chronicles Dirk’s journey in a cramped train, his shack, his work in the camp square and the chronic conditions and humiliation he and many gays suffered. The play is a testimony to the last moments of Dirk’s life and a chilling reminder that all evil needs to triumph is for ‘good’ people to do nothing.
9. SHACKLED
May 5 - 10, The New Theatre
Straight strangers, Stu and Alex wake up naked in bed and handcuffed together with no memory of the night before, it all seems very funny – except there is no key. They struggle to discover how and why they find themselves in this predicament, it quickly becomes apparent that one of the guys knows a lot more than he is letting on. Writer Fergus Ford soon turns the laughter to screams as his sexual black comedy chillingly unfolds. Despite the fact that it sounds likes black comedy version of Saw, it promises a few laughs at least.
10. BED DEATH
May 5 - 10, The Cobalt Café
Now I know the words ‘interactive experience’ is likely to terrify the mild-mannered theatre goer among you, but for those of a more adventurous bent is Bed Death, a play about four lesbians on a Murder Mystery weekend. The shenanigans soon stop when a real murder takes place and the girls get more than they bargained for.
The International Dublin Theatre Festival takes place at theatres across Dublin from May 5 to 18, to download the full programme or book a show, visit www.gaytheatre.ie