There was something quite fabulous at seeing 60 men in glittery black sequined waistcoats singing (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life at the close of act one of the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus homage to the Seven Deadly Sins.
But it was pretty clear by then that both the Chorus and the audience were having the time of their lives at the unofficial opening concert of the Brighton Fringe.
From the opening reminder to turn our phones off which started by addressing us as “To all those who have sinned, or who may do so before the night is out” you knew that the evening was going to be something rather special.
The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus celebrated their tenth anniversary last year and under the Musical Directorship of Marc Yarrow have begun incorporating thematic evenings into their annual calendar.
The Seven Deadly Sins was more than just a medley of songs around the themes of envy, greed, sloth etc but through a series of ‘Alan Bennett-ish’ monologues both a celebration and rejection of these sins. Quintin Young’s staging ensured that the audience was brought along through the change of tone and performance style, signalled by simple yet effective lighting and choreography which brought additional layers of humour and elegance to the proceedings.
The monologues, written and performed by members of the Chorus were both funny and touching, eliciting nods and laughs of recognition from the audience especially around the recurring themes of ageing and keeping up appearances.
Following each monologue were three numbers responding to that sin, two by the entire Chorus and one solo. This format allowed for a refreshing mix of songs, hearing renditions of Take That’s Rule the World within Greed or David Bowie’s Golden Years in the Envy section brought new meanings to the lyrics.
The chorus worked together as a seamless unit, and the arrangements by Yarrow and Deputy Musical Director Tim Nail were witty and complex particularly Uptown Funk (Gluttony) and Total Eclipse of the Heart (Pride).
There were six solo numbers. First up was Sadao Ueda performing an incredibly moving version of Labrinth’s Jealous (Wrath); Rod Edmunds sang the concert’s only number from a musical, Vanilla Ice Cream (Envy) from She Loves Me, performed with humour it sat very well along the confessional style monologues. Adam Betteridges’ version of Coldplay’s Fix You was filled with poignancy. In act two Chris Baker swapped his black sequined waistcoat for a leather one and was joined by four backing dancers from the Chorus to strut their stuff to Lady Gaga’s Vanity (Greed) and Anthony Jackson-Stubbs’s Aint That a Kick in the Head (Pride) would have given Dino a run for his money. But it was Nick Ford’s version of Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights (Sloth) that brought the house down as mid-way through, a comedy change in register, saw Nick singing in a high soprano – sensational!
Following the finale of It’s Raining Men there were a few speeches and as it was Marc Yarrow’s birthday the previous day the audience got to have their singing moment as all joined in to sing Happy Birthday.
The party atmosphere continued with an encore which was clearly a Chorus and audience favourite I Am What I Am from La Cage Aux Folles. With the audience on their feet, holding hands and joining in it was clear that everyone had enjoyed the time of their lives. And as we headed out into a beautifully warm Brighton evening, we could hear the distant sound of fireworks signalling that the Brighton Fringe had begun!
The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus have been nominated for a Brighton Fringe Audience Choice Award, to support them text VOTE CHORUS to 60300.
The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus next production is London Brighton on Friday, August 5, All Saints Church, The Drive, Hove.
Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
The Seven Deadly Sins
St George’s Church, Kemptown, May 6 and 7, 2016.
For more information about BGMC, click here:
