Review: CRUISE, Aria Entertainment & Lambert Jackson Productions (Online)
The modern-day is transported back to the 80s in Aria Entertainment and Lambert Jackson Production’s newest performance, Cruise, which is currently streaming online before it embarks on a limited West End run in May.
After the popularity of Russell T Davies’s TV drama, It's A Sin earlier this year, it’s great to see another story surface in its wake. Cruise is a brilliant piece of work that incorporates the vibrancy of queer culture, the pulsating vibrations of the music and a tribute to veterans of the AIDs crisis.
Cruise has successfully curated a combination of screen and film in this format like no other.
It’s 1984 and Michael has been diagnosed with HIV and only has four years to live - at the most. So, with the clock ticking, he and his partner Dave throw caution to the wind and party hard. Two years later, Dave dies and Michael decides to hone in on drinks and drugs harder than ever. We witness Michael’s last night of his four year countdown, when he decides he is to go out with a bang. There’s an added element, which takes us to the modern day that pays as an important reminder to history which still lives with people across the UK now.
Although it is a one-man story, Jack Holden does a spectacular job at portraying this powerful story (which he also wrote) with the added emphasis of clever camera angles and sound design to help bring the punch of this era to life. The play captures the intimacy and strength of live performance through the screen that makes for inspiring viewing.
Holden does a great job of characterisation and controlling the narrative, with some really well crafted fourth wall moments that ensure you are right at the forefront of what is happening. Cruise has worked with so many different areas of Michael’s life to tell the story, all under one roof in a spectacular style. It’s incredibly striking in its delivery and although fast-paced, it ensures you are along for the entire ride in 95 minutes.
One of the best streamed shows this year.
Cruise is an important piece of theatre to see. It makes you laugh and cry, but most definitely inspires you, the viewer, to live every day as if it’s our last. An outstanding, inspiring piece of theatre that we won’t be forgetting in a hurry. Amazing!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Emmie Newitt
The film of Cruise is available until 25 April at Stream.Theatre. The live world premiere of the production will reopen the Duchess Theatre for 4 weeks only from 18 May – 13 June. For tickets and further info, please visit www.cruisetheplay.co.uk.
