sun 06/10/2024

Lord Arthur's Bed, King's Head Theatre | reviews, news & interviews

Lord Arthur's Bed, King's Head Theatre

Lord Arthur's Bed, King's Head Theatre

Gay cross-dressing Victorian aristocrats and their modern counterparts

Spencer Charles Noll 'sparkles both as uber-twink yuppy Donald and saucy, sassy Stella'

Regular punters at the King’s Head are familiar with cheerily naked gay romps, they are quite a speciality in this much favoured North London haunt, possibly enhanced by the intimate dimensions of the theatre itself. In Martin Lewton's Lord Arthur's Bed the stark lighting and very basic set – a double bed and a dining chair – further highlight the sensation of almost prurient proximity, something almost immediately addressed by Ruaraidh Murray’s very in-yer-face Jim, who tells the audience that “you are our webcam”.

Regular punters at the King’s Head are familiar with cheerily naked gay romps, they are quite a speciality in this much favoured North London haunt, possibly enhanced by the intimate dimensions of the theatre itself. In Martin Lewton's Lord Arthur's Bed the stark lighting and very basic set – a double bed and a dining chair – further highlight the sensation of almost prurient proximity, something almost immediately addressed by Ruaraidh Murray’s very in-yer-face Jim, who tells the audience that “you are our webcam”.

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Comments

Mr Ward, Your review is basically spot-on. That said, I enjoyed the show. The actors are enjoyable to watch, and I appreciate Lewton linking our gay past with the gay present. LGBT people aren't out of the woods yet even in the UK where gay bashings, school bullying and something as simple as being too uncomfortable to walk down any street holding the hand of one's lover persist. In fact I'd see the show again which might even be better on the second viewing. The play would benefit from a bit of tightening perhaps, both the 19th and 21st century parts, but the actors did carry the show in my view. Clearly I'm an easier critic than you, though I do love to read your take which always enlightens.

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