Review: THE NIGHT LARRY KRAMER KISSED ME, Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre

Photo credit: Mark Senior

Currently playing in the Studio at the New Wimbledon Theatre is The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, the UK premiere of the longest running Off-Broadway show.

This production stars charismatic John Bell (Outlander) as "The Performer" who welcomes the audience with open arms into a collection of personal stories and pieces of spoken word exploring the impact of "Performance" in all its forms, especially when paired with the performer's sexuality.

One thing that really gives strength to this piece is its use of the space as the Studio is a truly intimate room. Bell is able to make eye contact and truly connect with everyone in the room, which creates a wonderful atmosphere whereby the audience feels privileged to be a part of the performance. The set (designed by David Shields) furthers this brilliantly, placing Bell in the centre of an even smaller stage, with nothing but different sources of light surrounding him. These light sources are what helps to heighten and provide context to the piece.

Of course, being a one-man show, the performance needs to be perfect; all eyes are on one performer at all times and Bell gives a surprisingly nuanced perspective. It would be easy to take this and heighten every choice to make up for the lack of a surrounding ensemble, but John is able to keep your attention mostly with a brilliantly simple conversational performance that welcomes the audience with open arms.

The text itself is a heartfelt look into how the idea of performance can affect a person at any stage of their life. We hear the character's first experiences with theatre; West Side Story, A Chorus Line, and most importantly, A Normal Heart (this being the titular "kiss" from playwright Larry Kramer) and how these experiences went on to shape the character’s own expression of self throughout his life. When encountering the AIDS crisis in New York, the piece becomes a loving memorial to those lost... Those 10,000 sources of light in the night sky, beautifully represented by the design surrounding the performer.

It's easy to liken this production to It's a Sin (Channel 4) for example, in the way it gives a human story to the staggering figures of those lost to the AIDS epidemic, which is what leads us to confidently say that it would be a sin to miss this show. You would be missing out on something special, something rather unique.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Callum Wallace

The Night That Larry Kramer Kissed Me plays in the Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre until 26 February, with tickets available here.