Fun House Review – Alison Bechdel’s Music Feel Everything | Music

The “fun” on his head is short for funerals, meaning a family that does business based on inheritance Alison Bechdelhis father. But there is also fun, in the soulful music of the artist’s paintings. First sight in the UK in 2018 and now revived by director Sarah Frankcom in an all-around fluid style, it brings a light touch to an emotionally charged story.

Published in 2006, the graphic novel describes the awakening of the author – he kissed a girl and she fell in love – which coincided with the discovery of his father’s secret life. In the music adapted by Lisa Kron (book and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori (music), it is a reading of the past and the present, as the 43-year-old Bechdel (Jodie McNee) shows herself (Alice Audrey O’Hanlon) thinking about her childhood (Felicity Moore in my work).

Everyone has their own opinion on their conflicted father (Nigel Harman), who is at times charming, cruel and cruel – and he rules his mind. Their mother (Alex Young) is still unknown, having allowed herself to be taken over by her abusive husband.

For this reason, it has a visible nerve problem Day’s Long Journey into Nightno family member can see their friends as they are, parents are doing good to their children even when they are dealing with the pain of their generations. Tragedy – Bechdel says only that her father committed suicide – haunts her deeply because of the incomprehensibility. Therefore it is impossible.

Yet this is a light-filled show where Moore, as a very young Bechdel – joined in my singing by Reggie Kempson and Morris McKinley as her brothers (both excellent) – can belt out a funky Jackson 5 number around an empty box, or the whole company can sing Raincoat of Love, the perfect soundtrack to a TV show.

There’s life in the heart-on-sleeve numbers sung by Harman and Young, but there’s also joy, humor and nostalgia. Who didn’t love O’Hanlon singing about his first sex in Changing My Major (“sex with Joan”)?

A brilliant performance, it’s a show full of class conflict, epic celebration and the hope born of a difficult life.