Review: My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?)

Theatre sets are fascinating. Sometimes you enter an auditorium and wonder at the world immediately before you as it induces uncertainty. Other times, an unexpected familiarity envelopes you in its warm cocoon. On this occasion, it’s the latter. The pre-millennial décor of a 1990s living room draws the focus: an extrapolation of the room which will readily feature in the home videos. The protagonist, Rob Madge, is the absolute epitome of that generation of kids who grew up in a family where the camcorder is an extension of the parental eye: the era of affordable video technology prior to mobile phones breaching their original USP to usurp the former. Subsequently, we see Rob at the age of 12 putting on a Disney show in their living room where he plays Mary Poppins, Mickey Mouse and a host of other characters. It doesn’t quite go to plan and their father - stage manager and Goofy - gets all the blame but their grandmother is having a ball in a ‘teacup’ (an easy chair with casters, manipulated by the young Rob).

The show is connected through narration and a series of songs carrying the message to accept kids for who they are. Madge was lucky. Their parents did exactly that. It soon becomes clear the star of the show is their father. Always there. Always filming. Capturing whatever essence it was Madge sought. They were loved by their parents and grandparents who thought nothing of making puppets for Madge’s puppet theatre. It clearly made them secure in their own skin which is the beauty of this show. A mere 2 metres is all that separates the 16 year gap between the two Robs…and it is touching how connected they both seem: as though the 12 year old sees the 28 year old and passes forth a baton, humbly received by the latter.

If there is a criticism, it is the reliance on video footage. Madge at moments switches between being a performer and being one of us: a viewer. But this is a minor criticism as the broad sweep of the show is a joy and it is clear the audience love Madge.

Throughout the video footage you hear the young Madge beseech “are you filming it?” to their dad. Not something you need ask anyone now.

My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) ran until 16th August at the Underbelly, McEwan Hall, Edinburgh