Okay, here we go. If Jenna Maroney from 30 Rock and Jack McFarland from Will and Grace had a baby, it would be Ian Lockwood - and I mean that in the best possible way. Only these two characters would perform a one-person show with the idea that they would kill themselves at the end. Yes, I’m serious…
Ian Lockwood is a total star
The show itself starts with some context: Lockwood being interviewed by the one and only Barbara Walters about his career, feuds and lifestyle. What more does he have to achieve? Not much, it appears, as this is the final show of his farewell tour. The Wee Coo is quiet on the night I see the show, but I forget about the thousands of ‘Ian Freaks’ in the nosebleed section above us, so the vibe is electric. As the show gets going, we’re treated to Lockwood’s first song, Nasty. It’s a self-explanatory bop about his bad side, and we’re treated to some delightful runs, riffs and several dance breaks with duplicates on the multimedia screens behind him.
But behind the glitz, glamour and showmanship are feelings of real heartbreak. Why does Lockwood really feel the need to end everything? Who are his real friends? It’s a show that not only shows off Lockwood’s chops as a performer, but also his humanity.
Ian Lockwood is a total star. The songs are hilariously funny (my personal favourite being Not Like Other Girls), and he deserves to be playing to a much larger room – even though, in a way, he already is.
