Upstaged Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewer: Daniel Shipman
Written and performed by Jack Holden, Cruise is a romp through Soho of the eighties which is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. The audience are pulled into the world of the play by Holden’s self-insert character – a contemporary volunteer at the LGBT+ Switchboard charity – who takes a call from Michael – a now-middle-aged gay man looking to relive his journey from naïve young man through the dancing, drugs, and dodgy bars of gay culture in 1980s London.
Cruise is a romp through Soho of the eighties which is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
Over the course of the show, Michael regales us with tales of Soho which are so fleshed out that you feel you could walk up on stage and go on a night out with him. Of course, this being a gay show set in the eighties, it is inevitable that the spectre of HIV/AIDS should tragically end up increasingly forming the centre of the plot as we watch the decade progress. But despite this, the message in Cruise remains one of positivity and optimism in the face of self-destruction and disaster.
In terms of the production itself, there is a lot to love here. Bronagh Lagan’s punchy, pacy direction ensures that the 100 minutes straight-through running time flies by whilst you barely even notice. Holden’s only companion on stage is the musical accompaniment of John Patrick Elliott, whose scene-setting textures range from the cabaret piano of dingy drag bars to ecstasy fuelled Chicago House club nights.
Nick Corrall’s stage design is sparse but impressively utilised, consisting mainly of a rotating platform with a skeletal metal structure on. From these humble elements, Holden sets out to immerse us in Michael’s world. Ultimately though, the success or failure of Cruise hinges on Holden’s performance and he does not disappoint. Proving to be a master of multi-roling, he seamlessly flits through a wide and varied cast of camp characters with little more than a slight physical affectation and the lilt of an accent.
…theatre fans of all ages will find a lot to love here. This is gold standard theatre.
Between the evocative accuracy of the staging and the award-worthy skill of Holden’s performance, theatre fans of all ages will find a lot to love here. This is gold standard theatre.
– Daniel Shipman
Cruise runs at HOME Manchester until 12 August 2023.