Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
Reuben Kaye brings his outlandish campery to the Southbank Centre in his hilarious and filthy The Butch is BackSummary
Rating
Excellent
Reuben Kaye is beautiful and boisterous. He is spending this December made up to the nines in the Southbank Centre, spreading his mischievous joy in The Butch is Back, which lands for a three-week residency in London. Supported by a fabulous six-piece band, Kaye presents an evening of song and dance, of stories and jokes, and some… let’s say ‘cheeky’ floor to ceiling banners. Tonight was a cabaret that celebrated Kaye and his journey to realise and accept his identity. For those of us in the audience who could relate, it filled our queer little hearts with joy.
Kaye is exceptionally funny. His cheeky, side-eyed one-liners are thrilling. Slow burning sagas from the depths of his memory are compelling, with expertly timed punchlines. His trauma‑informed comedy feels completely authentic, and there were points where we were swept away with feeling.
Sometimes it can be the audience who make a moment suffer, though, and I couldn’t help but feel some giggles were forced into moments that maybe weren’t meant to be funny – a sticking point I have with some people who can’t imagine that a comic could possibly share a thought without a punchline. However, one of my favourite parts was Kaye reminding an overstepping lady in the audience that the show wasn’t a two-way conversation. Even with occasional respite, the set is never more than a minute away from another sex joke, and sometimes when you’ve heard one you’ve heard them all.
It was only seconds after the show opened that I realised Kaye has a phenomenal voice. He flawlessly covers songs pitch-perfectly, but tonight the balance between him and the band was off just ever so slightly. This was enough that some of his words unfortunately weren’t audible, and I’m so certain that he would have been clever with the lyrics. This didn’t put me off his incredible vocals, though.
To top it all off, he looks phenomenal in his drag finery. The make-up, the tailoring, the pony-tailed microphone which whipped me in the face a few times (yes, Reuben, it was me) were all fabulous. But amazing as the visuals are, they’re only a representation of the charismatic, sensitive, filthy and exhilarating person that Kaye is. The look, the music and the well crafted performance are all so flawless it must be painstakingly put together – but Kaye makes it look effortless. It’s tomorrow now, Rueben, and we still love you.
Created & Performed by: Reuben Kaye
Produced by: Chambers Touring
Musical Direction by: Shanon D. Whitelock
The Butch is Back is playing at The Southbank Centre until 30 December 2023. Further information and bookings can be found here.
