Choosing A Show For My Straight Male Friend
Published on Tuesday 25th May, 2.21pm, Written by Carrie Dunn
When my good friend @tonycross read my article about Grease 2, he tweeted: “I’ve not seen it or Grease. In fact only musicals I’ve ever seen are Phantom and Guys & Dolls.”
And yes, it was me who made him go to see both Phantom of the Opera (up in the cheap seats, several years ago) and Guys and Dolls (at the Piccadilly Theatre, starring Ewan McGregor). I tried to make him watch A Little Night Music (I thought the intricate cleverness of Sondheim would appeal to him) but both of us gave up on the Menier benches at the interval and he had to help me walk home as I screeched in agony with my back in spasm.
I’d like to get him along to more musicals. I would LOVE my straight male friends (of whom there are admittedly a limited amount) to share in my joy of musical theatre. So what’s on at the moment that you think he might enjoy?
Would Love Never Dies’ darkly gothic undertones of love corrupted appeal? The sex and sass of Chicago must be a safe bet – but what about Sweet Charity? Is Legally Blonde just too pink? (I’d say no – but persuading fellas of that is proving surprisingly difficult.)
Decisions, decisions. Help me, dear reader.
Avenue Q, maybe? I think that’s an acceptable one for straight guys!
Without hesitation, HAIR.
Avenue Q works on everyone.
All you have to tell him is that it’s adult muppets and there’s a song called ‘The Internet is for Porn’
Another vote for Hair or Avenue Q here … or you could go completely the opposite direction and try Priscilla and se how that goes down ; )
If in doubt, I’d opt for something like Avenue Q – who wouldn’t say yes to sexually-active puppets?
One of the few musicals my straight male friends at work will admit to liking is Avenue Q. Probably because it’s dissimilar enough to a ‘traditional’ musical for them to find it unthreatening. (That and it’s funny.)