The title’s unnecessary exclamation mark is testament to the relentless glee on show in London Gay Men’s Chorus latest musical jaunt. Following a precedent set by last year’s Oklahomo! Little Shop’s plot is constructed almost entirely around the innuendos that possess it. If sexual wordplay is what you’re looking for then you’d be hard-pressed to find a better alternative. An hour of achingly wide eyes, tight tops and key changes, the production lives up to its title in its shameless exploitation of the gay stereotype. The vast majority of the audience loved it.It is the energy of the cast however, rather than their execution, that carries the production through. The sex jokes quickly grow tiresome and there is a limited level of joy to be derived from seeing them attempt huge numbers originally performed by some of the greatest divas of the twentieth century. The quality of the vocals is not the show’s defining attribute. The singing is in no way bad but the top notes of the all-too-frequent feminine songs are often a strain for actor and audience alike. There are some pleasant harmonies along the way but nothing particularly striking in terms of arrangement.What grabs the audience is the infectious enjoyment of all involved. Even on your departure the chorus send you away with their best wishes, a simple gesture that passes a ripple of smiles down the stairwell of C Chambers Street. The production has a huge emotional heart. The sense of community within the chorus beams out into its audience as seemingly fearless queens are guided through their blushes of insecurity. For all its reliance upon dirt-cheap laughs, Little Shop of Homos! is not afraid to take itself seriously. I dare say there were moments which verged on moving.
