Reviewer: Christine Stanton
Book, Music & Lyrics: Erik Ransom
Director: William Spencer
“Excellently X-Rated”
4 / 5
~This review was originally written for The Reviews Hub ~
In the age of technology, there’s an app for everything – and the dating scene was quickly transformed with a myriad of options to swipe right, hook up or re-connect. Grindr remains the powerhouse of gay online dating, so what better way to celebrate its success than by writing a full-blown parody musical for it?
Erik Ransom’s Grindr The Opera features Grindr (Christian Lunn) as an ethereal being, awoken from slumber and gaining power every time the app is downloaded. Grindr’s mission is to keep as many men as possible online and engaging, physically pained whenever a relationship is formed, and the app is deleted. Lunn’s vocals are an absolute force to be reckoned with. A fantastic casting choice, Lunn dominates the stage with their presence alone, the rendition of Wanderlust being a show-stopper song of the evening.
The narrative follows four very different characters, and the impact Grindr has had on their lives. Devon (Santino Zapico) is looking for love, desperate to find a more meaningful connection and slightly horrified by the nsfw photos and straightforward sex propositions. It’s through Grindr he meets Tom (Billy J Vale) a versatile guy that is only up for some no-strings-attached fun, uninterested in anything deeper. But Devon and Tom connect more than they expected and begin a long-term relationship, wedding bells in the distance. Vale and Zapico are both extremely talented performers, their connection investing the audience in their sweet love story and impressing with solo songs such as The Clinic and A Trick of the Mind.
One half of the other pair eager to interact with Grindr is Don (Dereck Walker) an older right-wing Tory counsellor, staunchly homophobic in public, but secretly in the closet – literally in some cases, such as when he books hotel rooms for young boys on the app in the hope he can pay them to fulfil his needs. His character is repugnant but a necessary addition to the broad range of personalities and interactions that take place online. One of the boys he meets is Jack (James Lowrie), who provides a 100% satisfaction rate and wants as much fun as possible. Both Walker and Lowrie are fantastic with their contrasting portrayals, fully committed with excellent timing.
Like Grindr itself – you may come to this show expecting a quick thrill and easy entertainment, but it’s more than that. Excellently X-rated, Grindr The Opera is fun and silly, and although on the surface it initially seems to just be a light-hearted parody, it’s well written, well concluded and features some poignant moments about themes such as hepatitis and the fear of coming out. Granted, these are sprinkled in between definitely not poignant songs such as Cum Dumpster and Load More Guys, but that only adds to the surprising layers that this show has.
Runs until 8 July 2023
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