An award-winning one-man show that reveals the underhand tactics of journalists and editors who pursued an intrusive homophobic campaign against one of Britain’s biggest rock stars. Rating
Excellent
Stories about press intrusion into the private lives of the rich and famous frequently resurface. At the time of writing, seven high-profile individuals are suing The Mail on Sunday for breaches of privacy, including intercepting voicemail messages, listening in to live phone calls and obtaining private medical records. Those bringing their case to the High Court include Prince Harry and celebrities Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and Elton John.
It is then timely that Henry Naylor has brought his award-winning one-man show to London, after its sell-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe last year. Monstering the Rocketman is a study of Britain’s first and, at the time, biggest media privacy battle, between Elton John and The Sun newspaper. It provides an astonishing backstory to the continuing saga of celebrity versus press.
In the late 1980s, The Sun published an unverified, sordid sex story about Elton John to entertain its readers. Under the bullying editorship of Kelvin MacKenzie and ownership of Rupert Murdoch, the newspaper carried out an intrusive, homophobic campaign of extreme snooping to discredit the rock star. The harassment included handing cash to vulnerable teenagers, bugging hotel rooms, and intercontinental stalking in search of a negative story. It continued until Elton John won a £1 million payout for damages and a front-page apology.
The show conjures up an era before iPhones and wi-fi, when hacks filed stories by fax, commuters often read the same newspaper, and sensational headlines were rapidly repurposed as fish and chip wrappers.
The tale is largely told by a rookie reporter, named Lynx, after the deodorant he applies to mask his sweaty trade. Looking every bit the dishevelled journalist in an ill-fitting shirt and gaping tie, he is desperate for a front page byline, but harbours a nagging feeling that the methods used to deliver celebrity-driven drivel are morally wrong.
Naylor clearly puts his heart and soul into the piece. An established comedy writer and performer, he is a natural raconteur, which suits the intimate setting of The Arcola. In an energetic and physical performance, he jumps between characters that include staff at The Sun’s Wapping office, night club bouncers, Elton’s mum, song writing partner and the star himself. Precise direction by Darren Lee Cole keeps the plot moving at a frantic, sometimes breathless, pace.
Elton John’s presence in the show is limited to incidental responses to the main action, which takes place mostly in a gloomy newsroom. For anyone expecting a grand piano, oversized sunglasses, and sequinned jumpsuits, these are not included. Instead, the focus is firmly on the murky world of the gutter press, where a story is judged on its entertainment value and ability to sell papers rather than whether or not it is true.
The piece is clearly well-researched, with projections of Sun front pages providing visual evidence of historical accuracy. This show will be of interest to anyone interested in how we arrived at today’s era of misinformation, fake news, and distrust of mainstream media.
Written by Henry Naylor
Directed by Darren Lee Cole
Produced by Pipeline Productions
Monstering the Rocketman plays at Arcola Theatre until Saturday 21 February
