An ambitious yet uneven effort, powered by Doherty’s charisma and strong character work.Rating
Good!
Andrew Doherty opens Sad Gay AIDS Play with a sharply self-aware introduction, complete with what may be the best fake laugh currently heard on stage. It’s an immediate reminder of his strengths: disarming charm, precise comic timing, and a natural ability to connect with an audience. That confidence sets up expectations for what follows – a more ambitious and deliberately ‘serious’ piece that reaches for bigger thematic ground, even if it doesn’t always sustain it.
Despite its title, the show is less focused on AIDS itself and more on the pressures surrounding its creation. Much of the tension comes from the sense that this isn’t entirely the show Doherty set out to make, with the influence of funding bodies shaping both its direction and content. This idea – of an artist caught between personal instinct and external expectation – emerges as one of the more interesting threads running through the piece.
At times, however, the execution undercuts that strength. The script often overstates its intentions, with scenes lingering on explanation rather than trusting the audience to draw connections. The Arts Council is framed as a looming, almost villainous force, but the satire lacks subtlety, and its impact dulls as the point is repeatedly underlined.
The six-scene structure provides a clear framework, but the piece doesn’t always feel fully developed. Compared to Doherty’s earlier work, such as Gay Witch Sex Cult and Woman Lawyer, there’s a noticeable dip in polish and momentum. The absence of immersive production elements – particularly in lighting and sound – leaves this show feeling comparatively sparse rather than intentionally stripped back.
What truly elevates the piece is Doherty’s performance. His character work is vivid and engaging, cutting through the heavier framing with bursts of energy and humour. From a disapproving mother to a quietly hopeful northern boy dreaming of decorating cupcakes, these moments are both absurd and unexpectedly heartfelt, hinting at a different show bubbling beneath the surface.
Not every joke lands, but Doherty’s warmth and charisma carry the audience through. Sad Gay AIDS Play may not fully resolve its ideas, but it remains an intriguing if uneven work – one that suggests an artist pushing beyond his comfort zone, with stronger work likely still to come.
Writer: Andrew Doherty
Sad Gay AIDS Play runs at Soho Theatre until Saturday 21 March
