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I Miss The Mountains: Fly More Than You Fall @Swkplay

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Losing a parent when you’re still figuring out who you are and your place in the world seems like a bummer of a topic for a musical. But somehow, Fly More Than You Fall tackles grief and loss with a light touch, catchy music and enthusiastic performances. While it may not offer great insight into the exploration of grief, it gives pause for thought and a few laughs on the way. After all, death doesn’t take a holiday, and nobody gets out of here alive. We just hope it doesn’t happen too soon. It’s currently playing at Southwark Playhouse Elephant .  We first meet Malia as she prepares for summer writers' school. She aspires to be a writer and has a story in development. Encouraged by her mother to keep going, she is looking forward to the summer. But the summer school is cut short when her mother is diagnosed with stage four cancer. Back home so her mother can spend her last days with her family, Malia has to grow up quickly and find her voice while watching her mother slip away.  T

Eternal guilt: Dorian The Musical @SWKplay


Dorian is a new musical that updates Oscar Wilde’s gothic novel from the uptight Victorian era to an undetermined period of gender fluidity and glam rock. On paper, musicalising the Picture of Dorian Gray to a period of glam rock, social media, and cheap shoes seems like a good idea. After all, Oscar Wilde’s gothic story is very adaptable. It has been the source of countless adaptations for the stage, television or movies. I was half expecting a trashy Dorian, similar to the early 1980s telemovie that shifted Dorian’s gender to a woman. This version falls into a so bad it’s good category with Anthony Perkins in a lead role, who as he ages under makeup starts to look like Andy Warhol. 


And while it’s great to see a new show, a strong cast can’t compensate for such an earnest production with underpowered songs. There’s no sense of fun, and some curious staging and costume choices  -mismatched dresses, crocodile boots and furry suits - serve as a distraction. It’s currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough). 

There are some subtle changes to the names and characters of the source material. Dorian (Alfie Friedman) is a broody, sullen man on the brink of musical fame. A photoshoot by Baz (Leeroy Boone) leads to a framed picture that becomes old while Dorian pursues a hedonistic lifestyle with his ambiguously straight friend Harry (George Renshaw). Death, drugs, and many pearl necklaces follow Dorian around.

But the songs don’t tend to move the drama forward and feel repetitive. If you sell your soul for eternal youth, there has to be some upside. Instead, we get introspection. We could have had a good time if there had been a nudge and a wink that everyone was in on the craziness. 

Directed by Linnie Reedman with a book by Linnie Reedman and music and lyrics by Joe Evans, Dorian is at the Southwark Playhouse until 10 August. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Danny Kaan


 

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