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REVIEW:
"Blowing Whistles is a crowd-pleaser"
by Colin Thomas JULY 27, 2012
Blowing Whistles is about gay culture and identity, but the script itself doesn’t know what it is.
The opening scenes play like a bitchy queer sitcom. To celebrate the 10th year of his love for Jamie, Nigel decides that they should have a three-way, so he invites over an Internet hook-up, the romantically named Cumboy17.
The funny exchanges—and there are a lot of them—are often fuelled by audacity. Defending his bisexual bona fides, Cumboy (aka Mark) declares, “I like cunt,” and Jamie spits back, “But you couldn’t eat a whole one, right?” And there’s plenty of camp absurdity. After the three have sex, Mark tells Jamie in a private tête-à-tête that, when Jamie kissed him, the passion caused electricity to shoot through his body. “No,” Jamie replies. “That was the duvet. It’s a polyester mix.”
Writer Matthew Todd, who is the editor of the U.K. gay magazine Attitude, should have known that he was on to a good thing. But, not satisfied with being funny, he strains for relevance and the script grinds uphill to become, in the language of its publicity, “a searing topical drama”.
Mark’s destabilizing presence opens the cracks in Nigel and Jamie’s relationship. They’re party boys and the sexually addicted Nigel wants to keep humping everything that hasn’t already been nailed down. Jamie wants them to grow up, which mostly means that he wants to be able to trust his partner.
Under Morgan David Jones’s direction, the generally strong performances are also a mixed stylistic bag. Shane Bingham, who plays Jamie, anchors the show because, within the character’s campiness, Bingham maintains impressive emotional credibility. As Nigel, Michael Lyons leans more heavily into the comedy but his performance, too, is solid. Jamie and Nigel are familiar characters, almost stereotypes, but playwright Todd is trying something more original with Mark and the results don’t jell. As written, Mark swings between seductiveness and rudeness, romanticism and cynicism. You’d have to be a genius to pull this off. Cameron Crosby’s interpretation of Mark is honest in a low-key way but his Mark also feels like he exists in a private stylistic world, a universe far removed from Jamie and Nigel’s entertaining dysfunction.
And, in the end, that’s what Blowing Whistles is really about: entertainment. The Pride-ready opening-night crowd ate it up. And I’ve got to admit that Blowing Whistles changed me. In this regionally adjusted version of the script, Jamie says of himself, “You can’t go putting a bolt through your penis if you live in Kits and you work in a bank.” I will now look at my Kitsilano bank tellers—and wonder. Thanks for that.
"Blowing Whistles has enough going for it above the waist too"
by Mark Robins JULY 27, 2012
There is little doubt Landmark Productions will fill the PAL Theatre for Blowing Whistles with its promise of full frontal nudity, fortunately there is enough going on above the waist in this Matthew Todd play for those that don't just think with their dick.
Jamie and Nigel are celebrating their tenth anniversary. While modern etiquette would dictate diamond jewellery as the proper gift to mark the decade, the two decide to celebrate theirs with a threesome. While adding a third is nothing new to their relationship, their latest trick, 17-year old Mark, is interested in more than just a one night stand, forcing the couple to evaluate their life together.
Playwright Todd begins Blowing Whistles as a very funny and sexy, but otherwise unsurprising, gay sex comedy that culminates with a nude scene. What is surprising though is the almost 180 turn Todd takes after the first scene into more serious territory and holds a mirror to our community’s obsession with age, sex, and commitment.
Shane Bingham, the only member of this cast that identifies as gay, brings the truest performance of the night as a slightly campy Jamie, easily moving from the funny to the more serious. Taking his Jamie to the brink of stereotype, he manages to balance him perfectly on the edge. Bingham is buoyantly hilarious in the first scene but is just as comfortable with drama as he watches his relationship implode.
Michael Lyons brings a believable immaturity to Nigel, although at times it did border on whining. Furrowed brow aside, his obsession with where his next hook-up will come from, even as he tries to tell Jamie he can change, sees his eyes never seem to wonder too far from the computer that hails another potential sex partner.
Cameron Crosby has the toughest role of the night as the other man. Full of his own baggage, playwright Todd could have spent more time here. Absolutely fearless in willing to bare it all for his craft, Crosby is a perfect balance of aloof and needy.
Under Morgan David Jones’ direction, the cast is confident in its comedy and carefully treads a fine line for much of act two. While they dip their toes into the shallow pool of melodrama as Jamie and Nigel fight late in act two, it is mercifully brief.
Jessica Oostergo gives us a realistic Kitsilano apartment which is lit with an equally realistic warm summer glow. Oddly though, in two of the more serious scenes director Jones makes the decision to move to more dramatic lighting.
Interestingly, the online hook-up site GuySpy (changed from the original Gaydar along with a number of other local references) plays a major part in the downfall of this relationship. Curiously, this recent entry into the sex-on-demand arena is a sponsor. I guess the old adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity remains true.
Along with all that is happening over at the Queer Arts Festival, Blowing Whistles is a great alternative for those looking for something more than just another party during Pride. It might even make you question just what we have to be proud about.
REVIEW:
Last night I had the privilege of seeing Landmark Productions Vancouver Canadian Premier of "Blowing Whistles" by Matthew Todd. Jamie (Shane Bingham) was incredible and GuySpy Mark (Cameron Crosby) bares all while Nigel (Michael Lyons) reveals his gritty addiction. A must see play of the Vancouver Pride Society Season. The PAL Theatre is an amazing venue. Director Morgan David Jones has to be proud of this production! Congratulations!
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REVIEW:
"Blowing Whistles"
by Tyrell Witherspoon JULY 29, 2012
Tonight, Patrick and I got a chance to catch Landmark Productions’ performance of the famed LGBT play, “Blowing Whistles.” The play was written by Matthew Todd, the current editor of Attitude magazine in the UK. The three-man play centers around the lives of three gay men, two in a relationship, the other a one-night threesome. However, this young man who enters their home turns out to bring much more than they both expected and turns their world upside-down.
Directed by Australian-transplant Morgan David Jones, and produced alongside the shows co-star Shane Bingham, the story rings true to a present situation that currently plagues gay relationships no matter where you live. The show also stars Michael Lyons and Cameron Crosby. Originally written for a UK audience, Morgan and Shane received permission from the playwright to localize the play to their audience therefore, creating a unique story that references Vancouver and its isms. A really smart decision on their part.
At the top of the play, we meet gay couple Jamie and Nigel. The two are relaxing at home following a party for their 10-year anniversary. We quickly learn that Nigel is cruising around on GuySpy looking for the couple’s evening hook-up. Not exactly the way you’d expect a couple to celebrate. While Jamie isn’t too into it, once the evening’s treat, “cumboy17” also known as Mark shows up, both get enticed by him once he comes back from the bathroom wearing nothing but his birthday suit. Yes, the show does contain a little bit of male nudity. The couple has set some ground rules when it comes to hooking up and we learn about them as the play continues when Mark sets his sites on Jamie alone.
I don’t want to give too much of the play away so all I can say is go check out this wonderful show. It’s great to see Morgan and Shane bring such a prominent show to our city for the gay community. Set inside the wonderful PAL Theatre (which has a beautiful rooftop terrace to enjoy before the show and during intermission) the actors do a great job of portraying exactly what it’s like in some relationships in our community today. Act 1 will have you laughing and gasping while Act 2 will definitely bring out the tears. “Blowing Whistles” is running until August 4 and you can get your tickets HERE.
COMING SOON!
myVancouver
We recently had the privilege of being interviewed by BRIAN ADLER for the Pride Edition of myVancouver, to be aired on TELUS TV. Stay tuned for more info!
ON AIR
REVIEW:
"Blowing Whistles"
by David C. Jones JULY 30, 2012
There is a new theatre company in Vancouver and they have some new stories to share.
Blowing Whistles is about a 30 something gay party couple that are celebrating their ten-year anniversary. Although they have always been swingers loveable lug Nigel, thinks inviting a hook up from Guy Spy would be a great way to celebrate. With minor protestation from prissy Jamie, they welcome Cumboy17, in for the night. They also invite a big test for their relationship and for themselves.
The script written by Matthew Todd, is very witty especially in Act One where zingers and quips abound, but there is more than just situational comedy here.
I love gay stories especially when they tackle issues we rarely get to see. Gay party culture, Internet hook ups, lost youth and long term relationships are some of the issues in this comedy drama. They are compelling to me partly because we don’t often see them.
When the play takes a more serious turn in Act Two, I found the work riveting as I got caught up in the relationship(s) and the likeable though flawed personalities.
The all-white cast does a great job under director Morgan David Jones truthful eye. Cameron Crosby, plays the young hustler heartbreakingly detached while trying to find his way and some sort of connection (and yes, he looks great nude). Michael Lyons, as the hard drinking and drugging party boy is boyish and fun loving, open hearted and then volatile when things get desperate.
Shane Bingham, as bitchy Jamie is suitably caustic and cautious, bravely catty to sadly forthright. He has to do most of the emotional heavy lifting in this show and he handless it with skill and compassion.
Sure – it’s not the greatest show ever written and the production has a few rough spots (a few rushed moments) but as a gay play Blowing Whistles was original and involving – I have not seen this story before and love that and it and well, everything. I laughed and cared and got to see some sexy actors and one of them was nude. Welcome to town Landmark!
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