Review: When Harry Met Barry (Above the Stag)

The Above the Stag Theatre continues its policy of offering a plethora of musicals and plays covering almost every aspect of LGBT life, with a return of this favourite, first seen in an earlier version at the theatre's original Victoria venue six years ago.

Paul Emelion Daly's When Harry Met Barry is a musical tale of missed opportunities and unacknowledged love between a pair of long lost friends: Harry and Barry shared a drunken night in a friend's spare room during their youth. Fast forward a number of years and Harry (Brandon Gale), is a successful TV chef. He encounters clubber Spencer (Austin Garrett) and embarks upon a fun, but brief relationship. On the other side there's Barry (Sam Peggs) a lawyer who meets Alice (Maddy Banks) a thrift shop owner, in the local laundrette, of all places.

Harry goes on to date Spencer, while Barry dates Alice. When Spencer and Alice randomly become friends it mean Harry meets Barry…again. Having not seen each other for years, their emotions are rekindled, to the detriment of their current relationships.

The musical has catchy tunes with amusing lyrics which really help you warm to the characters, but it is the two leads that really shine here. Gale (Harry) and Peggs (Barry) work well together, supplying the audience with barrels of fun, plus their looks and voices compliment each other perfectly. Banks as Alice has excellent one liners and Garrett's Spencer adds just the right amount of camp. The band of only two musicians sounds fantastic and bring the piece to life.

If the show as a whole feels a little flimsy, it is still a funny, enjoyable musical which leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. The production values in Steven Dexter's new staging are very high: the impeccable sets work wonderfully, and the vibe in the venue is undeniably infectious.

When Harry Met Barry runs at Above the Stag until 11 June.