REVIEW: Frostbite, Who Pinched My Muff at the Garden Theatre

A moment of taking things a little less seriously, after a year that has been downright difficult in so many ways we can all agree is needed. Never has the tradition of going to a Christmas pantomime held such gravitas for our sanity and that's for the adults. Frostbite, Who Pinched My Muff is an adults-only pantomime full of all the kitsch, silliness and energy you are craving but with dirty jokes thrown on top.

Proudly claiming the spot for the UK’s first production to open after lockdown during summer, the Garden Theatre is a beacon of light amongst the dimly lit theatre scene. They have slickly created a formula to put on socially distanced live shows in their outdoor heated and covered space that is not only comfortable and entertaining for an audience but that even stands up to the traditionally interactive nature of pantomime. From the moment I entered The Eagle, I was confident I was in good hands.

Frostbite, Who Pinched My Muff is set in a Germanic alpine village of Vaüxhallen where all is happy and well until the Demon Frostbite (Nathan Taylor) embarks on a mission to freeze the hearts of all mankind! In a battle between good and evil, we are introduced to an array of larger than life characters who steal our hearts, and innocence, as they endeavour to save their village. Dame Herda Gerda (Dereck Walker), her son Garbo (Shelley Rivers), Fairy Snowflake (Kingsley Morton), snowman Lumiukko (James Lowrie), the youthful and edgy Gretta (Bessy Ewa) and her wealthy father Bergermeister Kai (Tom Keeling) become our eccentric warriors.

REVIEW: Naked Boys Singing at The Garden Theatre

You may or may not have heard of Naked Boys Singing, but regardless if you have or not I think you can get a sense of what this show is about! This musical revue originated Off-Broadway and was still running before the closure of theatres. This show has run in London before but it returned at the beginning of this year at the Kings Head Theatre, after a very short run due COVID and a couple of cast changes, the show makes its return to the Garden Theatre. 

After a successful launch with Fanny & Stella and Pippin, Naked Boys Singing is part of their ‘Eagle Late’ season. As I have said in previous reviews, this venue really are going above and beyond to ensure the safety of their customers and to create a safe but still enjoyable and beautiful evening. 

Knowing that the piece itself is over 20 years old and with the obvious nudity in the show, my initial thoughts were that it was going to fall into the boring cliché gay theatre that is more about selling tickets to see naked men than thinking about its duty to the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately, this is quite common in this sector however times are changing and with this adaptation of the piece, it's certainly a step in the right direction for a better representation of gay men in theatre. 

 

Don’t get me wrong, the piece itself is slightly dated. Its premiere was in 1999 so naturally there would be some parts that may not be relevant anymore, however, director and choreographer Carole Todd manages to bring it into 2020. With small changes to the book and lyrics to update it and a cast that represents today's gay male, the piece doesn't feel out of place in our current day. There is still a lot of room for the LGBTQ+ community to be truly represented properly in theatre but what the creative team has done with this show is a very good start. 

REVIEW: Fanny and Stella at The Garden Theatre at The Eagle

This is my first trip to the theatre since everything shut down in March and what a pleasant experience it was. My first time visiting the Eagle in Vauxhall and I was greeted with politeness and exceptional hospitality by the staff. They are doing everything they can to create a space that is safe but still enjoyable and comfortable for all. The show itself is socially distanced both in the audience and onstage, with a few subtle jokes in the piece addressing it! But to tell you the truth, you wouldn’t even notice. Which is a huge credit to the creators. 

The setting is the beer garden of the pub and whilst this may seem a little weird, its dressed like the best outdoor fringe venue you’ll ever experience. As far as I’m aware, an outdoor venue like this has never been done and this is a prime example of how to do to it well and I hope this opens doors for the future as to what we could possibly see in times to come on the fringe scene. 

Fanny and Stella tells the story of Ernest Boulton and Frederick William Park, they were two young men who, in 1871, were put on trial in London for dressing as women. A new piece by Glenn Chandler and Charles Miller, brought to the stage by Peter Bull for LAMBCO productions and directed by Steven Dexter, this classic Victorian-Vaudeville style musical is truly wonderful and Dexter has done a brilliant job at transforming this pub beer garden into a pretty fringe theatre. With musical staging by Nick Winston, his work is almost like the sprinkles on top of the cake. It adds flair and campness that this piece thrives on.