“A play that explores the deeply closeted lives of gay and transvestite men who seek refuge from their everyday lives. Whilst this is laudable, Parris’s play feels like three plays mashed into one...The first half is a mess, but in the second act some stronger storytelling begins to emerge...What the Americans will make of such a parochial play I can’t imagine, but there are several things that can be dealt with now to improve the production."
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"An uneven play; perhaps writer and director Karlton Parris has been inspired by the seaside setting to offset the drama with saucy humour...The gags are good but the routine goes on so long that the end of Act One is reached before the theme of the play has become clear. More significantly, the humour and the drama do not blend well together...Not a subtle play; the characters do not converse but rather make lengthy speeches at each other.”
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“The basic premise of the play has a lot of comedic potential and much of it is realized...There is some difficulty of tone between the two parts of the play, and this becomes more apparent in the second half...But overall, Parry’s script convinces. The direction was a bit cumbersome, allowing the pace to drift and as series of scenes to be played with the same mood and tone repeatedly, but the strong central performances carry it...Funny, surprisingly political and full of revelations."
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"Although shrill at times, the play tries to stay realistic in its depiction of life in the fifties, staying away from nostalgia and portraying both the mental and societal oppression the LGBT community had to endure...The play shines through its acting...Although Parris’ script is certainly a strong point, there are times where slapstick seems to overtake the normally remarkable balance between comedy and serious exploration...Nevertheless, 'Once a Year...' is very good entertainment."
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“A queer tragicomedy that skilfully straddles the divide between the two genres...Parris’s script mixes Carry On farce with dramatic realism, a juxtaposition that cuts through the nostalgia and reminds us that the golden age of bawdy innuendo was also the time when gay men were routinely brutalized...Anyone would do well to seize the opportunity to see it while they can."
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“Craftily constructed play, with several interwoven strands that come together, ultimately uniting all the characters in a show of defiance against the social mores of the day...Part comedy, part love story, with a serious end and based on a true story. All six characters are excellently portrayed...A powerful ending with people throwing things and spitting at them...At the end the audience were on their feet and the ovation was justified.”
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