It’s never a given that British and American tastes in theatre, and tastes in musical theatre in particular, will tally. Although The Last Session received acclaim on its debut Off-Broadway in 1997, it has taken a further 15 years for the show to have its European premiere. On the one hand, it’s easy to see why. The schmaltz level never threatens to dip too low and the focus on the Gordian Knot of sexuality and religion plays far more strongly to transatlantic tastes. That said, it’s a watchable, tuneful couple of hours.
Gideon (Darren Day) is a gay singer-songwriter losing his battle with HIV/Aids. His mind is made up: after one last session with old friends to record a farewell album for his partner, he will commit suicide. What he hasn’t reckoned on, though, is the arrival of Buddy (A J Dean), a young singer — and ardent Christian — who thinks Gideon is the “Baptist Barry Manilow” and is determined to make him repent of his Bible-defying ways.
It would be easy to pick holes in the piece; for example, just over two hours seems quite a short time for a man to jettison a lifetime of fervent religious belief. Nonetheless, composer/lyricist Steve Schalchlin and book writer Jim Brochu keep us onside with some sparky quips and a judicious selection of heartfelt songs. They slide easily between genres but share a through-line in intelligent lyrics that worry at an illness whose treatment was then largely experimental.
Day, miming convincingly at a keyboard, makes Gideon soulful if understated for director Guy Retallack and is supported by a fine-voiced cast who really let the music fly.
Until October 27 (020 7240 6283, tristanbatestheatre.co.uk)
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