We run a lot of competitions here at The Guide and people often get back to us with what they thought of the film, show, gig etc. But never before have we had such glowing feedback about an event as EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE. It is an exciting and uplifting stage production, filmed and edited to keep the theatrical feel while giving front row access.
We meet Jamie. In the last few weeks of high school, he is suffering through Careers class where he is quite used to being called the usual names that gay kids get called. In his head, all his classmates are merely his backing band because this boy has an inner life that needs fabulous expression. Thank heavens Jamie has a home life which supports and loves him. Mum, Margaret, and her BFF Ray are his port in the storm but part of him wants the love of his estranged father who left them … partially because he is embarrassed by a nelly son. Jamie has guts and confidence and self-awareness and he knows that he needs to express himself in drag. Prom’s dress code will become the catalyst for the boy to become…
Based on a true story and a documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE was originally staged in its home town of Sheffield at the Crucible Theatre, for only 19 shows, but the filmed version is from the West End Apollo Theatre, July this year. The show is still playing to sold out houses and was nominated for 5 Olivier Awards and won 3 WhatsOnStage Awards. There is a film coming too apparently.
This sensitively shot film stars John McCrea who brings such a watchable character to life. He is flamboyant and boyish in equal measure and his dancing is skilled and thrilling to watch. And what McCrea can do in extraordinarily high heels takes one’s breath away. He must have legs of steel to do that 8 shows a week. Vocally, he can pound out a thumping rock song like the opening number ‘And You Don’t Even Know It’ and then he can break your heart with a still, vulnerable, melancholy ballad ‘The Walls in My Head’ that builds to a kickin’ decision tempo.
There are some wonderful songs here, from the emotive, singular and personal through to raucous, outrageous and pulsing rock. My favourite, and apparently some of our competition winners’ too is delivered by Jamie’s mum, played by Josie Walker. ‘He’s My Boy’ is a show stopper 5 minute testament to love and Walker’s unflagging care for Jamie is the beating heart of this show. Tears and awe for her work. The other cast also give ripper performances too. Lucie Shorthouse as his school friend Pritti and Phil Nichol as the ex-drag artiste who mentors our Jamie are terrific in support and the ensemble is an athletic enthusiasm of vibrant leaping characters, each with their own arc to travel towards the climax of the show.
For this is an uplift of a show with a happy ending. It never, however, loses sight of its working class story. The accents bring home the added pressure on the family, and generate comparisons with Billy Elliot of course. The homophobia and queer baiting in schools and in life is not minimised or sequin covered and it’s hard to watch. The father particularly.
The stage is small and very close to the boxes, but what a deck. Set up with a disco canopy and a strip lit floor it brings the glamour and the dance party feel to life when required but can just as easily morph into a detailed domestic kitchen or solid, danceable on, classroom. And a whole drag shop flies in and the great band is visible in silhouette above the video wall which makes up the back of the set. The viewer gets very theatre-like experience from the filming. There’s no tricksy edits or camera movement and the capture is pinpoint to the emotional and narrative content. You can see the tears close-up and triumph in wide shot.
EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE is a take-to-your-heart film. Exuberant, joyous work that never diminishes the struggles of queer youth and their families but gives expression to the richness of gay life and the straight people who dance along, among and beside.
EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE was filmed live in HD and through Sharmill Films [Facebook] will be releasing 24th November for a limited time. Information about the Australian season here.