★★★★✰
Following acclaimed Turbine Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe and West-End runs, Rob Madge’s My Son’s A Queer returns in all its homemade, queerly wonderful glory. A tribute to theatrical children and indulgent, long-suffering but loving parents, Madge’s show is both joyful and melancholic, recognisable and hilarious to all of us who once trod the living room boards, screeching the Little Mermaid.
The show takes the form of Madge’s attempt to recreate their failed Disney parade, originally “ruined” by their dad missing his cue and some faulty costumes. Along the way, we are treated to clips of Madge’s home videos, which originally went viral on TikTok and form the basis of the show, which allow insights into the loving chaos of their family and their marvellous precociousness. It must be hard when your comic partner is your child self, and often funnier than you: but each clip is chosen carefully and hilariously, from the “are you filming” montage to an overjoyed Rob receiving a treasured Christmas gift. These clips provide the backbone of the evening and show us, in full colour, the joy to be had from giving your child the love, respect and facilitation they deserve. They are also some of the funniest things to be seen in the West End this year.
Madge’s talents extend beyond their VHS’d self. They are an excellent singer, and carry off Pippa Cleary’s sometimes slight but enjoyably Menken-esque songs with panache. Their comic timing is impeccable, as is their script, packed with jokes about Cheryl’s ghost story and rainbow Thomas the Tank Engines. At the same time, the script dips into the melancholy of childhood bullies and misunderstandings by teachers: also familiar to much of the audience. Madge’s show provides not only a step-by-step guide to putting on a Disney parade, but also to overcoming these issues.
At times the high production values distract from the core story: rainbow handprints are an unnecessary and distracting addition. But oh, the wonders Rob Madge can create with a video screen, a wool wig and a dose of archness.
An enjoyable explosion of queer joy, nostalgia and upending melancholy, My Son’s A Queer deserves its accolades. Perhaps in too big a space for its intimate writing and performance, it nevertheless dazzles, uplifts, and offers hope. There’s also a Disney medley before the show starts. The complete package.
Words by Issy Flower
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