Burn Venus Burn
I must stop going to plays about men in skirts. I only spend time admiring their legs over their lines. Just last night at the Soho Theatre, under the spell of the mesmerising Tam Dean Burn's performance of Venus as a Boy, I was distracted by thoughts of Kate Moss. Not because Venus and Kate both live cocaine-and-sex sagas or represent the epitome of a kind of cool heavily tinged with London decadence. But rather because they both have spindly bowed legs which look great in skinny jeans. But I digress.Venus as a Boy is one man's way of infusing beauty into a life that is not the soft landing that a childhood in the hills of Orkney prepared him for. We first meet Venus as he lies dying in his Soho bedsit, turning gold and lamenting that 'true love was never going to be my reward.' The plot then traces his story of loves found and lost and the interminable heartache the cycle induces. Venus tackles the big subjects, the desire to connect with other people, and to long for a love equal to that which we offer up. It made me want to hunt down my exs and exact tantamount revenge. What better use is there for Facebook?
It's such a shame that visually Burn is more a haggard Boy George than gorgeous Orcadian boy. It means that as this book come play is currently being given the motion picture treatment by Film Four there isn't a place for Tam. Even more of a reason to get to Soho before Hollywood polishes off its integral tarnish for the silver screen.
Venus as a Boy
Soho Theatre
Until 22 Sept, £7.50-£20
0870 429 6883
posted by City Slicker at 11:59 am
8 Comments:
Heard about this by word of mouth. Will try and head over there. Good posting City Slicker. What's with the absence? Glad you are back. Gx
Tell me it's not going to be played by Jude Law?
No but hear Jude Law is playing Hamlet at the Donmar? Puhlease....
I am from Orkney and can tell him all about the reasons for dysfunctionality. If he was a gay man living there post 70s he would have had a very tough coming out experience.
Way to be a weirdo Dan
Actually heading out to see this tonight City Slicker so thank you.
Take good care.
This comment has been removed by the author.
notebook laptops
Orange Dunham was the seat of the Masseys. The importance of Dunham is further emphasised by the presence of two of de Massey’s castles: Dunham Castle and Watch Hill Castle on the border with Bowdon; a third, Ullerwood Castle, was near Hale. The Masseys remained lords of Dunham and its environs until the 14th century, when the line became extinct.
Post a Comment
<< Home