HERE YOU COME AGAIN

It’s hard to know exactly where to start with this unexpectedly bizarre theatrical confection. It in so many ways defies categorisation. There’s music, of course there is and it is great music, brilliantly played and sung. There’s comedy, heaps of it, some of it packed into the drama and some, there is no fourth wall, delivered face to face with the audience. There’s sadness,  psychological trauma, issues of self esteem. And there’s love or should I say unrequited love. Oh yes, there’s plenty charm too, the homespun philosophy of Dolly Parton sat side by side with Jonathan Harvey’s northern earthiness. And it all hangs on the tale of a forty year old gay man, in lockdown.

That’s an awful lot of content to cram into two hours on stage and it is delivered at breakneck speed by a very good cast. The central character of Kevin Rutter is a butterball of self doubt living in his parent’s attic. He has OCD, his career, such as it is, is on hold, or in fact has hardly moved. His love life is falling apart and his over protective mother, offering paracetamol or Anusol, is an ever present part of the life of this man-child. At this performance the part of Kevin is delivered by Aidan Cutler. It’s full on northern camp, quick-fire queer quality and very funny indeed, and despite the speed and ferocity of his performance, and the fact that he is the understudy for the billed lead, his performance has real clarity and charm, you love him and feel for him from the very moment he climbs the ladder into his attic home and shrine to the great Dolly Parton.

And as Dolly Parton’s go Tricia Pauluccio is amazing, the look, the voice, the mannerisms, they are all there. And the audience, no doubt packed with Parton fans, simply love her.

So there they are, side by side in a Halifax garrett, Harvey has transposed the original American script to the homely and ordinary north east. A failed would be stand up comic and a global superstar. Yes as unlikely a scenario as one might imagine, and one that I am not going to explain, I hate spoilers as I am sure readers and theatre goers surely do too.

What takes place is captivatingly silly, breathtakingly pacey, utterly hilarious and thoroughly entertaining. It rattles along, packs in the hits, charms, moves, surprises and is at the end a very enjoyable piece of nonsense, nonsense with a heart of gold and a charming message about living and being your real “me”.

The band are terrific, the set is excellent and the supporting cast can certainly sing up a storm as we hear at the curtain call when they are generously given their own moment. I thought it a shame that Aidan Cutler as Kevin only gets one solo singing moment, he has a great voice. He does get to duet throughout with Dolly, but I would have liked to hear more.

So, all in all this is a real hybrid, not exactly a juke box musical, far better than that, not simply a comedy, the story has some very poignant moments, and not a pantomime, although there are some very pantomime like moments. The gay love story is not bleak either as so many are, it has sadness yes, but also hope which, in a world where so much queer theatre is steeped in gloom, is refreshing.

I left the theatre with a wide smile on my face, not sure exactly what I had seen, but thoroughly entertained if somewhat bemused. Would I go again? Yes, it is fun, a great night out, truly engaging at all times and utterly bewildering.

Andrew Kay

3 September

Theatre Royal Brighton

Rating: