Musical Stages

This show opened in Los Angeles in 1998 and has been running in New York since 1999. It made a brief appearance at Madame JoJo's in 2001 and has, rather bizarrely, been made into a movie, with Ethan Le Phong, who was such a wonderful Lun Tha in the recent revival of The King And I at the Royal Albert Hall.
If you think you might be easily offended by the sight of seven fit, handsome, young men singing in the buff, then the title of this show should warn you off. But if like me, you are made of sterner stuff, this just might be the show you have been waiting for. Although the cast start off the evening with a song about ‘Gratuitous Nudity', there really is nothing remotely gratuitous about the show at all. But, to stop it from just becoming a peep-show, the director Phil Willmott has arranged it in three different sections. The first being the audition process; the second the rehearsal period; and the third the performance. In fact, it is a good 50 minutes before the audience are finally teased by the cast, when they are parading around the stage in nothing but their towels and a smile. Where the musical The Full Monty takes you to the moment of exposure, this show takes you a little bit further. Towards the beginning of the show Adam Mendlesohn tells us of ‘The Bliss Of A Bris' and then later on, in his big show-biz number ‘The Entertainer' he is joined by the rest of the cast, in a well-choreographed top hat and tails routine, only without the tails. David Lucas showed us that he would be worth every penny of his fee, if he were ‘The Naked Maid'. It was probably for the best that he did perform
his very raunchy number with his clothes on.  Matthew Russell-Jones was very amusing as the turned-on Stage Manager ‘Fight The Urge' and Duncan Leighton was a very cute, ‘Perky Little Porn Star'. Steven Butler, who looked a lot like a young Robbie Williams, was perfect as the guy obsessed with the man in the apartment
across from his ‘Window To Window' as was Nathan Taylor as the man of his dreams ‘Reprise'. I also liked the song he sang to his lover, who died of AIDS ‘Kris, Look What You've Missed' which was the best vocal of the evening. Joe van Haeften (who was my favourite) had great fun with his songs extolling the joys of masturbation ‘I Beat, My Meat' and nudity ‘Nothing But The Radio On', but the highlight for me was when Leigh Thompson, the Musical Director, had the stage to himself and sang about the manly virtues of ‘Robert Mitchum'. (Though it was scary that the friend I went with, had never even heard of Robert Mitchum! )
Although, Naked Boys Singing! does eventually have a stage full of naked men, it is in fact a very inoffensive show. I'm sure if I took my mother along to see it, she wouldn't bat an eyelid. It was a fun night out. The cast were very engaging and coped well with Andrew Wright's excellent choreography, although not every bodily part moved in time with the music.

The Stage

Naked Boys Singing! 2009

Published Monday 1 June 2009 at 11:05 by Mark Shenton

After turning Fucking Men, a show about gay sex that features no nudity, into a long-running fringe hit at the King's Head, director Phil Wilmott now offers a complementary show at the same venue that is paradoxically all about gay men in the buff but has none of them having sex with each other (there is, however, a paean to the joys of masturbation, I Beat My Meat).

The UK premiere of this show, which originally opened Off-Broadway in 1999 and is still going strong there, first took place at Madame JoJo's back in 2001, to provide a different sort of paradox - a drag bar where boys usually dress up as girls was being pressed into service to show exactly what makes boys men.
But if this is a show whose title alone tells you exactly what to expect, Wilmott springs another surprise. Although the cast begin by promising, "Tonight, we throw inhibition away/ Why even bother to make a fuss/ when it's obvious to us/ you're here to see/ gratuitous nudity", we don't actually get what we've allegedly come for until about two-thirds into the performance itself.

By then, it has built up an air of tension and expectation that makes the actual delivery of that promise a surprise again. And before that, we actually get a show, not the revue that it might otherwise feel like, pieced together as it is from the contributions of some 13 writers. Instead, it plays like a gay version of A Chorus Line, in which we watch a bunch of guys auditioning to appear in a nudie revue - and then actually appearing in it.
The novelty of seeing six guys in the buff would eventually wear off, even across the short, 65-minute running time, if that was all they did, but by withholding it, Wilmott ups the ante. Never mind that the actual nudity itself is inevitably deflated, in every sense, when it finally appears - by then, we've come to know and care a little about the singers performing them, and Wilmott's cast is so individually and collectively engaging that their nudity is almost incidental.

And it's refreshing to note that they've been cast more for their talent than for other qualities. One or two of the cast have indulged in a little pubic pruning to enhance their assets - but every single one can sing, act and charm in equal proportions, even if God has inevitably not provided quite so equally elsewhere.

Whatsonstage.com

Naked Boys Singing 2009 at The King's Head

"...what's so special about male nudity anyway? You've seen one, you've seen them all, and a 65-minute revue on the subject needs to offer a lot more than a sad little strip show for closeted voyeurs. It needs to be snappy, witty, catchy and entertaining. Happily, those are the very qualities that suffuse this good-natured, riotously funny evening of song, dance and, er, swing....

...Alongside some forgettable sub-Stephen Schwartz numbers are one or two real gems, most notably a torch song to Robert Mitchum (sardonically delivered by musical director Leigh Thompson) and the irresistible showstopper 'Nothin' but the Radio On'.

The seven-strong ensemble comprises six talented triple-threat guys who act with conviction, sing superbly and dance up a storm both individually and as a nicely matched ensemble...the excellent Stephen Butler, David Lucas and Adam Mendlesohn...Joe van Haeften, Nathan Taylor and Duncan Leighton are equally adept at treading the fine line between solemnity and send-up, and there is a bright comic turn from Matthew Russell-Jones who is (or do I mean provides) the seventh member of the cast.

Phil ‘King of the Fringe' Willmott does it again with some tight, fast-paced direction, although the show is really stolen by Andrew Wright's terrific choreography. The gentlemen dance like crazy, in or out of clothes, and it's always a hoot. If you've a mind to pop into the King's Head you'll enjoy a jolly spot of (semi-)innocent fun... but if it's gratuitous nudity you're after, be patient. The hour-and-a-bit flies by, and it ain't over till the naked boys sing."

- Mark Valencia, whatsonstage.com

British Theatre Guide

Naked Boys Singing

Conceived by Robert Schrock

King's Head, Islington

Review by Rachel Sheridan (2009)

Soon there will be nobody left in Soho if the King's Head has anything to do with it. F**king Men continues to extend its run and is now sharing its outrageously camp stage with Naked Boys Singing 2009 (which is pretty much just what it says it is - naked boys singing).

Naked Boys Singing is one of Off-Broadways' longest (no pun intended) running shows and it looks set to continue its success. A title such as this leaves you in little doubt as to what you are about to see; in fact the opening number, "Gratuitous Nudity", lets the audience know that the performers know exactly why they have come to see this show. It also won't shock you to know that, with the exception of a few dedicated fag hags (myself included), the audience for this production is largely same sex orientated, which is a shame actually as this show is about more than penises.

Camper than A Chorus Line, Naked Boys Singing follows seven men as they audition to be in a show which requires nudity. They sing about other jobs they have had which required nudity, about admiring the naked boy in the apartment across the street, about being a "perky little porn star" and about Hollywood stars whose nude appearances did their careers wonders. Of course, I know what you're all thinking; this is all very well and good but when do they stop singing about being naked and actually get naked themselves!

There is a great deal of teasing - or what you might call theatrical foreplay - before the big reveal and boy, do they reveal it! These boys don't let the fact they have no clothes on deter them from their energetic dance routines, complete with high-kicks. In fact, before they get to this moment you may feel that they have played it safe by keeping their clothes on for so long. However, by forcing us to wait, the impact is that much stronger and, in all honesty, once they are naked it is, as you can imagine, rather distracting.

The star of this show may be the nudity but it is supported by a fantastic cast. Their performances are funny, moving, and bizarre (and this is even with their clothes on!) There are moments when it all gets a little bit too Queer as Folk with a rap about checking out the other men in the gym, accompanied by full-on pumping disco lights. However aside from that (and of course the fact that they are naked for half of it), Naked Boys Singing really isn't that different from any other musical.

There is no reason why Naked Boys Singing shouldn't replicate its American success in London with its great songs, great performances - oh, and of course I mustn't forget to pay tribute to their co-stars!

Gaydarnation

Rating: ****

Naked Boys Singing, currently showing at the King's Head Theatre in Islington, is one of those shows that is incredibly difficult to write about. It has no real plot, no narrative as such and no developed characters - so not much for me to get my teeth into. The best way to describe it would be as a musical review. In other words a presentation of 17 songs over the space of 65 minutes. And the purpose of all this? To entertain of course and the good news is that Naked Boys Singing certainly does entertain.

Of course I know what you're thinking - just how naked are these naked boys? The answer is not as naked as you might imagine they would be, or not as naked as I imagined anyway. Confused? Well let me explain.
I was not quite telling the truth when I said that there's no narrative to this show - although what there is could be described as so slight that it is hardly worth mentioning. The evening begins with the arrival of six young chaps in a rehearsal room ready to audition for, yes, you've guessed it, a show about naked boys singing.
And so we chart their reactions to the whole concept of stripping off in public, their attitude to their bodies, other people's attitudes to their own bodies, all expressed through the medium of show tunes. And, to begin with at least, all of it fully dressed.

So what about the guys themselves? Let's face it, if you choose to go and see a show called Naked Boys Singing the chances are that you are hoping for more than just some killer songs, so do they live up to expectations? The answer is a resounding yes. They are all handsome in a reassuringly boy-next-door kind of a way, not chiselled and pumped Hollywood clones, just cute, real-life guys.
What's obvious from the outset is how enthusiastic the whole cast are and how talented too. A show like this just couldn't work without that - the songs are good enough, but no one is going to win a Tony for best original score here. It's all just a bit of fun after all and the fact that the cast are enjoying themselves (a few first night nerves not withstanding) means that inevitably the audience do too.

It's all very Broadway, with shiny grins, jazz hands and perfect American accents, despite the fact that the guys are all apparently as English as tea and scones. I suppose they could have transposed the work to London by rewriting a few lines, but since this show is hammier and cheesier than a huge ham and cheese bagel, placing it in the Big Apple just seems to make sense.

And before you ask, they do get out of their clothes eventually, after much teasing, titillating and dancing around in towels. Of course, as is always the way, the build up is much more exciting than the end result, and instead of being sexy the nudity is instead worked for its comedy value. The sight of seven grown men indulging in an energetic dance routine while belting out a number dedicated to the penis couldn't really be much else now, could it?

The nudity surprisingly takes a little while to get used to. I for one wasn't quite sure where to look and the intimate space of the King's Head means that it's all rather in your face, for want of a better phrase. And then, once you have accustomed yourself to all the flapping and jiggling, the whole show is over and it's time to go home.

As you may have gathered Naked Boys Singing isn't Chekov. It isn't going to get you thinking, it won't change your views on life, but then again it has absolutely no intentions of doing so. This is a show that is all about fun and with its ridiculous premise, cheeky schoolboy lyrics and pitch perfect cast, it successfully does exactly that.

Pink Paper Magazine

Rating ****

Luke Morrison
Pink Paper Magazine
3 June 2009

There are two things to bear in mind before watching Naked Boys Singing. Firstly, if you're expecting this to be some kind of male Vagina Monologues - it isn't. Secondly you may feel acute embarrassment while waiting for the show to start as you struggle to not make eye contact with your fellow audience members, in the shared knowledge that you are all about to see seven young men strip and perform for your amusement.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of the audience for the show. There was the predictable gathering of small groups of gay men more interested, I have no doubt, in the "Naked" and "Boys" aspects of the title rather than the "Singing" part.

However I hope that those who came along just for the voyeuristic kicks found themselves pleasantly distracted by the fine performances of the seven-strong cast, all of whom performed admirably - in a couple of cases with some poor material in the show itself.

The format of the show (auditions, callbacks and casting of all male naked revue) is interesting, but ultimately the show is all about the stories of the boys themselves - from Perky Little Porn Star to a Jewish boy's earliest memory in Bliss of a Briss, the songs vary in style, but are all delivered with panache.

A couple of particular performance highlights are Steven Butler's Window to Window, a peculiar love ballad about the unrequited love from afar of two men who live opposite one another. Also noteworthy was Robert Mitchum, performed by the Musical Director, Leigh Thompson - also the only member of the cast to keep their clothes on throughout. Top prize for comedy moment comes in Joe van Haeften's Jack's Song (I Beat My Meat) - all about the pleasures of masturbation.

If you've made it this far, then the only thing you'll still want to know is this: Yes, the boys are fit. Which one is the most fit? Go and see it for yourself.

Homovision

Naked Boys Singing - if you think it's just another one of those gay plays just whipping out fanny to get your attention - you're wrong. Well, actually, no... you're right... it does get your attention - but it's actually pretty funny.

The play's roughly based around auditions for a nude play, in which they all then actually appear in.
Each singer has a different story to tell, how they end up applying for the role, their background, their loves, their wank-bank habits etc etc. But bit by bit, the clothes come off until the grand finale where they whip it all out, gyrating around the stage as a comedy camp chorus line.

Packed full of understated smutty one-liners, jerk-off joviality, and some inspired dance-routines, Naked Boys Singing is a must. It's straight, it's gay, it's bi, it's you.

Go there now.

Thisislondon.com - Reader Review

You know, this night out was a complete and utter surprise! My girlfriend booked the tickets as she works just around the corner from the Kings Head. I told her it wasn't my thing but she insisted, so like the obedient boyfriend I went. And I really cannot believe how much fun I had. I think my girlfriend is questioning just how much I DID enjoy it!

But seriously, the cast are great. Fantastic energy coming off the stage. And most importantly, they seemed to be celebrating what we were all have in common, the naked body....... I left feeling rather proud of being a man!

When the guys finally stripped off for the finale of the show it was genius! It was somewhat life affirming?!?? Thank god this is anonymous other wise I would never hear the end of it from my mates! Ultimately though, I was reminded that no matter what the package is (pardon the pun), we are all exactly the same and THAT is worth singing and dancing about!....... I think I may just treat my girlfriend to a little show of her own with my newly bolstered spirit! Thanks guys!

- Sean, london