REVIEW: Grindr the Opera at the Union Theatre

  

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s the infamous orange mask recognised by queers around the world! Friend to some, foe to others, whether you have downloaded it or not, the app never goes away! And this time, it returns to one of London’s beloved fringe theatre venues for another run of ‘Grindr the Opera: An Unauthorised Parody’, currently playing at The Union Theatre. 

With the Book, Music and Lyrics by Erik Ransom, Grindr the Opera introduces us first-hand to the mythical siren themselves, Grindr, who has awoken from their millennial slumber by technology. Their mission? To entice and entrap as many men as possible online, engaging erotically, whether it’s no strings attached, or fulfilling fantasies. Throughout the story, we meet Devon, Tom, Don and Jack, four individuals each with their own story as to what led them to the notorious hook-up app, and ultimately, to intertwining with each other’s tales. 

Grindr the Opera has been on my radar for quite some time now, and much like the app, when an enticing offer entered my inbox, it was difficult to say no to the invite! Being a gay individual who has previously downloaded the dreaded app, and from the title of the show alone, I knew I was in for a raunchy and raucous ride, however, what I didn’t expect were the touching, yet very relatable and hard-hitting themes of struggles with coming out, STI diagnosis, and non-consensual moments during sex.

This adaptation, directed by William Spencer, does a fantastic job of blending amusing hits and one-liners, with poignant moments of exploration and delivery. With that being said, at times I felt some comedic moments didn’t reach their full potential, and some jokes were lost within the delivery of lines and sound quality. While the lyrics themselves contain hilarious nuggets of comedy, I would have liked to have seen the cast play and explore the nuance of the text further, drawing out their individual versions of the comedy. 

Nevertheless, overall the show was a fabulous evening of light-hearted (and slightly outrageous!) camp fun! Credit in particular must be given to Christian Lunn, who played the title role of Grindr, delivering a faultless and powerhouse performance in all aspects. Lunn was an absolute joy to watch and left me wanting more every time the mythical being graced the stage. A particular highlight was the performance of ‘Wanderlust’, which stole the production. 

If you’re looking to be seduced by silliness and song, then be sure to head down to the Union Theatre to catch Grindr the Opera before 8th July 2023!

Review by Adam Tipping 

Rating: ★★★