David Hoyle Ends LGBT History (Month)
Marlborough Theatre, 4 Prince’s Street, Brighton,
Saturday, February 28 performance
David Hoyle is a unique performer: compassionate, angry and not a little crazy. It’s a pleasure to spend an hour and a half in his company as he’s always an engaging, even charismatic, presence. His latest show doesn’t exactly break any new ground for Hoyle – its structure is pretty much the same as the last one I saw about three years ago – but it still makes for an entertaining evening.
Hoyle starts by warning us that the previous night’s show was really more of a rant, but he’d do his best to make tonight’s funny. And, luckily, he doesn’t disappoint. My favourite bit of the evening was an ad-lib to an errant audience member who foolishly hadn’t turned her phone off. After making sure the offending ring tone was silenced, Hoyle went on to explain that ‘if it was a cry for help, it’s probably too late’.
As usual words were called out by audience members and Hoyle put them together to make a song. Then someone was taken up on stage to have their portrait painted. Then Hoyle sang Maybe This Time from Cabaret (as Hoyle claims to only know the lyrics to about three songs, this explains why it gets an airing in most shows).
There was a first first for Hoyle, a support act. Alfie Ordinary is a camply fabulous naïf who looks like a Midwich Cuckoo who’s run away to join a stage school. He’s a sweet-natured lad who wants to be everyone’s Gay Best Friend and thus is an interesting counterpoint to Hoyle.
The show didn’t see Hoyle at his best. But a Hoyle not firing on all cylinders is still well worth seeing.