Once upon a time gay men had to leave the house to find each other. Not any more. The remarkably successful dating site Gaydar has rendered clubs and bars unnecessary and closed most of the public toilets in Britain. City Lights Theatre Company tells you everything you ever wanted to know (or didnt) about this cyberspace phenomenon in this unusual sketch show - unusual in that unlike most revues in Edinburgh, every sketch is funny.
From the moment the actors take the stage in a brilliant parody of Donna Summers Hot Stuff the tone is set for a fast and furious trawl through situations that will make Gaydar users laugh and cringe with self recognition and non-users gawp with astonishment.
The cast take on several characters each, ranging from Tony Higgins sweetly conceived naïve young boy about to embark on a career in show biz by meeting a top producer online (he thinks), to Ben Matthews jaded Gaydar user who is proud of his average dick and declares towards the end of the show Im a person not a profile to cheers from the audience.
David Paul West and Gregory A Smith are exceptionally good at the larger than life grotesques, such as the old ladies who accidentally discover the joys of downloading cock pictures, or the sexually frustrated Eskimos stranded in Gaydars Antarctica room. Miles Spencer does a nice line in thick muscle Marys, but is equally at home playing the smooth, seductive night-caller.
The cast personally created a short monologue each, some of which are quite poignant, hinting at the basic emptiness of this life style, but the bulk of the script is written by Menno Kuijper who also performs with as much versatility and gusto as the others. He also has a remarkable singing range, hitting one note which I heard outside the venue the day after I saw the show.
If I have a criticism it is that the show doesnt really deal with the more controversial side of dating sites, such as the potential for dangerous liaisons or grooming, but hey, its a comedy (and funded by Gaydar!). It is particularly heart warming to find a gay show which doesnt just rely on naked flesh (though there is some) and bitchy banter to get its laughs. Under the slick and imaginative direction of Matt Ian Kelly and atmospherically lit by Andy Beardmore it is also thoroughly professionally put together.
Book now.
