Venue 34 Age guidance 12+ Chambers Street.
‘A New Musical with a lot of Balls!’ boisterously claims SCENE of the TITANS, an engaging, premier production drawing on the talents of a feisty dramatic company all the way from St. Andrews.
The show’s conceit is generously based, according to Faulty Productions writer, Tim Foley, on the true-life tale of the ‘Ulster Titans’ who formed Northern Ireland’s first competitive ‘gay-friendly’ rugby team in 2007. Yes, insert apposite quips viz – you can only judge a rugby player by the power of his tackle/ooh, isn’t he scrumptious etc. It’s great fun delivered with sincerity and some of the kitch-disco set piece songs are to die for.
Though touching on, and often caressing, issues of sexual identity, gender ambiguity and prejudices, the narrative avoids hectoring or lecturing and, whilst the musical score may not trouble London’s West End just yet, the lyrics are pithily wry and scan deliciously.
There’s snappy dialogue dripping in innuendo but shrewdly avoiding coarse camp. Set in ‘The Kremlin Bar’ a haven for the alternatively orientated, Terry wants to form a ‘gay-friendly’ rugby team to compete in the 2008 Bingham Tournament in Dublin. An impossible dream perhaps.
Notwithstanding the desperate reality that they’re a vulnerable, lovable bunch of chicken-legged losers, both he and this disparate cohort seem further hell bent (careful!) on allowing their inner-conflicts turning the mission into a nightmare failure. With one man down (don’t go there!) and far too complicated to explain here, their only hope is to persuade their ambiguously gendered manager(ess), Sophie (or is it really Chris?) to don the logo-laden team kit and play a blinder.
Will it be a fluffy-feathered boa story of drag to pitches? Do they win? Does love conquer all? Do you want to share in the quintessentially embracing true-to-the-spirit of the Fringe ideal? Take the kids, they’ll love the naughty bits. Though, as responsible parents, you’ll have to decide which ones they’re allowed to see. Recommended.
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