May I Have The Pleasure...? Review

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Rating (out of 5)
3
Show info
Company
The Arches
Production
Adrian Howells (writer)
Performers
Adrian Howells
Running time
105mins

The colour theme of the wedding had been lilac, the colour of love (so they say).  All that was left was the day’s debris of flattened tinsel, deflating balloons, and empty glasses as the guests (aka the audience) were escorted to their tables.

This show is about a man, Adrian Howells, who is a gay male version of being ‘always the bridesmaid’. The audience is invited to share his many wedding experiences (he’s been to more weddings than I’ve had hot dinners) and home movies going back to his childhood as a page boy plagued with an itchy (or ootchy?) lacy shirt, to one of his many best man experiences.

He does a silent karaoke of It Should’ve Been Me and eats a lonely packed lunch to Alone Again, Naturally, but, overall, the music while waiting for the show to start on the Point Conference Centre balcony was better than what was played during the show. For me, it was neither old enough, nor romantic enough. Most of the audience was willing to participate in what passed for dancing with Adrian, either individually or at the end with everyone under the mirrorball. 

This is a confessional, autobiographical piece which was more self-indulgent than theatrical and the promised poignancy was not there for this reviewer. A very similar theme was in a play on the Fringe two years ago (Ringside). It was also autobiographical, but was done with a great deal of style and panache. 

Depression is a terrible ailment and wonderful when overcome, as Adrian seems to have done, but therapy as theatre does not work for me. It may be a personal catharsis, but coming to terms with faux pas in public, including a recounting of some Kelvingrove cottaging was neither amusing nor entertaining.

In saying this, he clearly has an audience and has gained a reputation for his singular style so I am either swimming against the tide or am that wee child who sees the Emperor’s New Clothes. 

Going to a wedding as a single person can be no joke and at least Adrian was sensitive enough to encourage everyone to introduce themselves. He spoke of the warm support he has of friends and quite positively about the desire we all have for human connection and belonging and; a good note to end on although the fact that the head was off the groom on wedding cake was not lost on me.

If you want a glass of fizz, a dod of cake, a dance with some new pals to Love is in the Air or some such song  and the spectacular view of the Capital at end when the curtain of the venue is opened, then this is the show for you. 

Show times: Til 28 August (not 20, 25, 26), 19.45 (15.00 matinee 18 August)

Tickets: Sun – Thurs £17 (£12 concs / £6 unemployed), Fri – Sat £19 (£13 concs)