‘EVERY LETTER STARTS WITH “I WAS JUST LISTENING TO BARBRA ST REISAND AND . . .'"
Mad abou he boy
Glasgay! welcomes back Johnny McKnight for another song and dance extravanganza in Little Johnny’s Big Gay Musical. Sandra Marron investigates
andom Accomplice‘s Julie Brown and .lohnny McKnight have resurrected the loveable. il' diminutive anti-hero of Little
.lu/mirv's Big (luv .‘It/l't'llllll't’. the deserved hit of
(ilasgay! in 2005. This timeout they bring us an all- singing. all-dancing cscapade as Little Johnny's Big (Jay Musical sashays. taps and vogues its way onto the Arches stage.
Little Johnny [aka Johnny McKnight] once again takes to the stage and opens tip about all the tips and downs and laughter and tears of his life. all of which is wrapped tip snugly inside his trademark wit and humour. This time McKnight will be warbling and hopping his way through a turbulent three decades on earth or. as he puts it: ‘l’rom my mother trying to kill me in the womb with the umbilical cord to turning 30.“
While the execution and subject matter is similar to his last adventure. he feels this show is probably much more personal than its predecessor. ‘lf the last show was the True Blue album. this is my American Life.’ he says. ‘l’m trying to be more personal. What stories should I choose and how can I tell them best'.’ There‘s a lot in there: my heterosexual life until I was 24. being a teenage boy with a breast obsession and all my old love letters to a girl. It’s a bit weird. I think that every letter starts with “l was just listening to Barbra Streisand and . .
The inspiration for this show came from a teenage list of his that surfaced a few years ago. which featured IS things he wanted to achieve by the end of that year. The show is a celebration of the fact that
54 THE LIST 18 Octal Nov :00,“
he still hasn‘t managed to succeed in doin’ any of c 2— .
the things on that list. According to McKnight: ‘Somctimes you don‘t manage to achieve everything that you want to in life; the show goes through a few of those things: my failed threesome. the fact I‘ve never had a proper relationship except with my ex— girlfriend and also that I‘ve never broken anyone's heart. It all sounds a bit depressing but it's totally a comedic celebration of the traditional Scottish mentality. where being a failure is actually a good thing.‘
The show is jammed full of dance routines and singing. The lyrics are just as important as the spoken word pieces but learning the dance routines hasn’t been so easy for young Johnny. “To be fair. though. I am a terrible dancer unless I‘m out at the Polo Lounge. and then I give Britney a run for her money.‘
The success of the first show was somewhat of a surprise to the company. They were worried that. other than a small gay audience. nobody else would care about the subject matter or. as McKnight puts it: ‘A wee guy from Ardrossan standing on stage and talking about Madonna and his love life.‘
He does feel. however. that perhaps it was Johnny’s honesty which led people to tap into the show. ‘I think that's what theatre is about and that‘s what myself and Julie try to do with the company. Let‘s tell it like it is and not hide behind aspirations and what we could be like.‘
The Arches, Glasgow, Wed 31 Oct-Sat 3 Nov.
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THE BEST LGBT EVENTS
:2: Beyond the Surface An exhibition by Andrew Printer, whose work addresses issues facing the queer community including the nature of intimacy in a community still reeling from the AIDS epidemic. Street Level Photo Works, Glasgow, until 27 Oct.
:5: Audloaenobica (pictured) There's a new gay venue in the capital and a new night to get you dancing. Jon Pleased and Lucky Luciano play electro- infused house. while Dejaybird (Fur Burger) plays indie, hip hop and classic dance tunes. GHQ, Edinburgh, Fri 19, 26 Oct.
=1: Club Nolr Gay friendly burlesque night with Schlock Horror Hallowe'en theme. Carling Academy, Glasgow, Sat 20 Oct. :1: Velvet A night for ladies who quite simply love their ladies. Velvet continues to keep the independent scene very much alive with music from DJs Random, Leatherface and Lucy Fur. Studio 24, Edinburgh, Sat 20 Oct.
:2: Civil Partnership Wedding Show If you're thinking of tying the knot you can meet photographers. sample cakes and browse honeymoon locations. with live entertainment from wedding bands. Tiger Tiger, Glasgow, Sun 27 Oct.
Queer History Night A history lesson with a difference - honesty without propaganda. Guest speakers include Kellan Farshea - the founding member of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Act-Up organiser - and Caz, founding organiser of Oueeruption London. Friends Meeting House, Edinburgh, Sun 21 Oct.
Fit This great new play for young people has been commissioned by Stonewall to tackle and highlight the growing probem of homophobic bullying in schools. A real eye-opener. CCA, Glasgow, Tue 23 & Wed 24 Oct. =l< Little Jehnny’e Big Gay 1 Musical See preview, left. The l Arches, Wed 31 Oct—Sat 3 Nov.