Review: SOHO BOY by Paul Emelion Daly at The Drayton Arms Theatre until 4 June 2022

‘Dazzling. Daring. Dynamic.’ ★★★★

Paul Emelion Daly’s one-man musical ‘Soho Boy’ tells the story of a young boy, Spencer, experiencing relationships, drugs, sex and the London gay nightclub scene, for the very first time. In the midst of the excitement and buzz, Soho Boy exposes a world easily disguised by all the glamour and charm of Soho nightlife and the darker realities which lie behind this.

Owen Dennis carries this one-man musical with a dynamic, delightful and engaging performance as Spencer. In his debut musical performance, he dances around the stage, revealing whips, chains and cabaret glamour; all this is captivating and entertaining to watch. Dennis performs upbeat, vibrant numbers ‘Leathers & Chains’ and ‘Drag Queen Superstar’ with confidence and star quality. In poignant moments, ‘Why ask for the moon’, he also captures the vulnerability and fragility of his character as he faces heartbreak and HIV diagnosis.

From song to sensual costumes, the show delightfully engages us and pulls us into this fun, alluring world. Despite the glitz and glamour, Soho Boy explores relevant, relatable and real themes that many people experience. Sexual health issues, sexual identities, drug addictions and heartbreak, are all explicitly highlighted. Soho Boy identifies these common and serious issues, openly revealing things which are not talked enough about and are still considered a ‘taboo’ subject in society. The show sensitively ‘educates’ the kind of struggles people go through and truthfully portrays the feelings of loneliness, vulnerability, exclusion and heartbreak that many experience living alone in the city.

Packed with creativity, scenes are filled with lively, colourful lighting changes (credit to Richard Lambert) and smoke effects, vividly depicting the nightclub world and enhancing the audience’s experience. Memorable and fun numbers made me come away wanting to listen to the songs again. One or two less upbeat songs did not stand out as much and there was a sense that the songs were the main focus, with the plot fitting around the music.

This show has great potential with its West End-worthy musical numbers and powerful story. Given that the play was 50 mins (a rule for Fringe entries), a longer show with added acts would allow the story to delve even deeper into Spencer’s life and perhaps explore his relationships and the psychological effects of chemsex even more.

Above all, Soho Boy is a significant show and provides an arena to explore the darker realities of the gay scene, which is often untold on stage. Running until the 4th June, catch this show if you can.

Read our article about the joys and perils of moving to the gay scene in London here

Photos: Brittain Photography

SOHO BOY

The Drayton Arms Theatre

24 May to 4 June 2022

Box Office:  http://www.draytonarmstheatre.co.uk/

Creative Team:

Performed by Owen Dennis

Music and Lyrics: Paul Emelion Daly

Director: Matt Strachan

Musical Director: Aaron Clingham

Choreographer: Robbie O’Reilly

Designer: David Shields

Lighting Designer: Richard Lambert

Sound Design: Julian Starr

Video Design: Daniel McKeown

Reviewed by Amelia Barnie

Amelia Barnie is an English graduate from Goldsmiths, University of London. She currently works as a publishing assistant and has a passion for scriptwriting, theatre and film. She enjoys writing plays and poetry and regularly participates in writing workshops including The National Theatre’s playwriting course led by Chris Bush (2021).