Ethan Knox

Yesterday was one of our first early mornings, and one of our latest nights so far. Classes began at a prompt 9:30am and lasted until 5pm. British Life and Culture and Shakespeare on the Stage both seem quite interesting, and will definitely teach us a lot about U.S./U.K. cultural differences and similarities.  Although thinking about schoolwork and aspiring to travel so much is definitely tough, I don’t believe the classes will prevent us from doing the things we want to do. Luckily, we’ll hop on some additional tours and get some cheeky peeks into a metropolitan life. Next week, we’ll be visiting the Tower of London, which I’m looking forward to greatly, and we also have trips lined up for Westminster and the Chelsea Football Club.

We’ll also be starting our Shakespeare class off with The Taming of the Shrew, (unfortunately) my least favorite of his plays. From the first class, though, I was able to engage with the narrative in a way I haven’t before, so I hope that if my mind isn’t changed, I’ll at least learn something new.

Around dusk and dinner with the flat-family, we all headed out to a musical I’ve been dying to see since it first “came out” here in London three years ago. In fact, I was so excited for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, I even considered flying to London just to see this single production. Although I eventually came to my senses, I was over the moon to find out that it would be the first show we would see as a group when we arrived. I couldn’t even resist buying a five-pound Playbill (so much for watching my spending, but it was worth it).

Now on its second season, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is Dan Gillespie Sells, Tom MacRae, and Jonathan Butterell’s brainchild– well, brain-teen. This team is a mix of new and old to the stage, which brings a special nuance and uniqueness to the show. Everybody’s Talking stars Noah Thomas as Jamie New, a 16-year-old British student who dreams of becoming a performer. But Jamie doesn’t want to just be any movie star or celebrity– his heart longs for the spotlight as a drag queen. The young man is flamboyant, exuberant, and absolutely stunning. I couldn’t help but want to jump up on stage and hug this very real, very enjoyable character.

Although the show focuses on Jamie, each member of the cast had me feeling starstruck, particularly Jamie’s mother Margaret, played by Melissa Jacques. Her beautiful singing voice was a standout and her love ballad, “He’s My Boy,” brought tears to my eyes. Other cast members playing students brought edgy, upbeat energy to the show with vogue-like moves in the opening song, “And You Don’t Even Know It.” I was especially shocked to realize the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle was played by Roy Haylock, also known as Bianca Del Rio and the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 6. Reprising his role, the heartfelt but brash comedy Haylock brings to the television screen jumps out doubly on stage. Together, they created a show I would watch over and over again.

Unlike theaters in Times Square, the Apollo Theatre is a relatively small venue, but the orchestra section– or “stalls” to Londoners– made the story come to life all the more. With the band behind screens above and visible at every song change, the set switching with a perfectly fluid score, and a wonderfully engrossing plot, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a show I’d recommend to anyone who can make it out to see. As a young queer boy, this is exactly the kind of media I would have devoured, and it makes me so happy to see such a receptive audience. As the months pass and I have the chance to see more of the West End, I hope other shows (Six, Waitress, & Juliet) impress me so thoroughly.

Cheers for now!

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