Writer: David Hoyle
Factory International pushes the boat out to welcome David Hoyle to Aviva Studios in Manchester. The actor/artist/ activist’s paintings and slogan works are on display in an exhibition entitled Please Feel Free to Ignore My Work and his birth town of Blackpool is celebrated in a montage film which opens tonight’s show: David Hoyle: Still Got It…!?. Blackpool also provides the inspiration for the structure of the show- an end-of-the pier variety show with an avant-garde twist.
There is the sense of a ‘greatest hits’ show as Hoyle does not stray far from his established performance pattern. Words are mispronounced or exaggerated to a ridiculous extent (‘’inVASTment’’) but flat northern vowels are retained. Familiar catch phrases (‘’Ladies ‘’und’’ gentlemen and those clever enough to have transcended gender’’) are used to the point of exhaustion. Hoyle claims to know only two songs by heart, but this turns out to be irrelevant as he tweaks the lyrics to have a more personal significance.
There is a strong autobiographical theme to the show, the title of which comes from a quiz in which the audience is invited to guess if Hoyle still has, never had, or has lost his stamp collection, a belief in capitalism or ringworm. Having lost faith in capitalism at an early age does not deter Hoyle from selling merchandise in the theatre shop. Each section of the quiz leads to an anecdote from Hoyle (he recalls how a moralistic, judgemental atmosphere could be relieved by Top of the Pops) and ultimately to the most powerful moment in the show when Hoyle repeats the options to one of his guests on whether she is HIV-positive.
Hoyle clearly relishes the opportunity to bring his guests from smaller club venues onto a larger conventional stage. Cabaret dance troupe Glitterbomb Dancers, choreographed by Joseph Mercier, make the most of the chance to show their range opening with a conventional bump and grind number and moving onto a more adventurous Barbie/ Marilyn Monroe themed robotic dance to a fully abstract routine backed by a grinding electronic score that may be intended to illustrate the horror of bullying and the perils of conformity although it is hard to be sure.
There is a strange relationship between sex and food in the show. As part of her roller skates and hula hoops routine alternative circus artist Symoné covers herself in whipped cream and the strip tease by comedy drag queen/ burlesque artist Lilly SnatchDragon is so excessive as to be likely to make you lose your appetite for both food and sex rather than long for a full English.
The introduction for Pam Lustgarden (Thom Shaw) including constructing improvised incendiary devices gives the impression the routine will be comedic whereas, somewhat puzzlingly, it involves reciting poems by John Cooper Clarke and Neal Cassady/ Jack Kerouac/ Allen Ginsberg. Pam Lustgarden does, however, return to the stage to deliver a comic eulogy to Hoyle; under the impression he has passed away from empathy after a long struggle with caring.
The pace of the show is slow, aimed at a conversational level and does not really proceed to a climax. It is, however, very positive in outlook – many of the acts are practical demonstrations of positive body image. Alternative Miss Ireland, Veda Lady, turns what could be a tragic story into an inspiration by reporting on actions taken by the HIV positive community. Among the mutual admiration between the acts there is, however, a hint of self-congratulation.
Hoyle boils down many political concerns to slogans recited throughout the show (‘’Permanent child poverty and food banks’’). He is also capable of being distracted by events which seem a bit trivial- yes, it is annoying when football teams close streets to celebrate victories (particularly when you’re trying to get a bus home) but there might be bigger problems to tackle.
Although Still Got It…!? serves to celebrate the works and opinions of David Hoyle and delights his existing followers its low-key nature and lack of sensationalism may puzzle rather than attract a wider audience.
Reviewed on 27th April 2024
The Reviews Hub Score
Low-key
