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Wee liberties: Beauty and The Beast: A Horny Love Story at Charing Cross Theatre

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It may not be a tale as old as time, but it’s still the same old story, almost, with Beauty and the Beast: A Horny Love Story currently playing at the Charing Cross Theatre .  As the title suggests, this is not family holiday entertainment, but neither is it all gay gore. And a surprisingly large number of clever gags, a gorgeous-looking production, costumes, and an ensemble make for a classy night out with the occasional lashing of sluttiness.  It’s been a while since I have seen an adults-only panto. Like many things at the theatre—ticket prices, opening nights, age of social media influencers—things have changed. Happily, things have changed for the better here. The show focuses on assembling an excellent cast. Elaborate costumes by Robert Draper and David Shields’ set pieces help give this adult panto a touch of class. There are the usual lewd jokes and a quick flash of buttocks.   The setting of the story is in the northernmost village of Scotland, Lickmanochers. Not...

I Miss The Mountains: Fly More Than You Fall @Swkplay

Production photo

Losing a parent when you’re still figuring out who you are and your place in the world seems like a bummer of a topic for a musical. But somehow, Fly More Than You Fall tackles grief and loss with a light touch, catchy music and enthusiastic performances. While it may not offer great insight into the exploration of grief, it gives pause for thought and a few laughs on the way. After all, death doesn’t take a holiday, and nobody gets out of here alive. We just hope it doesn’t happen too soon. It’s currently playing at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. 

We first meet Malia as she prepares for summer writers' school. She aspires to be a writer and has a story in development. Encouraged by her mother to keep going, she is looking forward to the summer. But the summer school is cut short when her mother is diagnosed with stage four cancer. Back home so her mother can spend her last days with her family, Malia has to grow up quickly and find her voice while watching her mother slip away. 


There are some fine performances here. Robyn Rose-Li as Malia gives the show its heart with an emotional and rousing performance. Keala Settle, known for a big voice gives a strong performance as her mother. Nat Zegree’s music and lyrics are inventive and catchy, showcasing a variety of musical styles. The songs also give the cast plenty of opportunities to showcase their vocals. It is a pity there isn’t a cast album… Yet. 

There are some nice touches throughout the production. Everything is shades of pastels at first, but grey creeps in from the death and loss. The set consisting of a pile of paper is no doubt a metaphor for the mountain the characters are climbing—real and imagined. 

Musicals heighten emotions at the best of times. As much as I admired Next To Normal, watching it felt like being a party to the trauma and as if you needed to be in therapy. Here, the show tackles grief and loss with sweetness and positivity about living each day and loving it, as you never know what might come next. It’s a message that comes across without being too preachy or sentimental. Or too American… 

Directed by Christian Durham with music direction by Arlene McNaught, Fly More Than You Fall is at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 23 November. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Craig Fuller

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