Naked Boys Singing

Naked Boys Singing is a classy gay version of Chippendales with less grunt and more glitz. The Ten (or 8) Tenors Go Nude - with a cameo by Australian Idol Casey Donovan.

Forget the partially clothed youtube clips or the publicity shots: this is full frontal male nudity in your face. Specifically it’s naked boys singing about gay things. You may not find that entertaining. The show has an 18+ warning.

What is undeniable is that all these men are talented and can sing, dance, and act, all backed by great piano playing.  The “boys” are 20–somethings, not minors, as a friend assumed. The show starts off innocuously enough: a well-played medley of strip songs, a fully-clothed send-up of grindr, then nude men covering up dangly bits with a smart bowler-hat routine. After that all bets (and clothes) are off.

The nudity gimmick easily wears off after the first few minutes, so the material that follows must be able to holding our attention. Luckily this cast maintains our interest purely on their artistic talents alone. You soon forget they’re nude, except for one or two routines aimed to bring our focus back to the dangly bits. At just under 90 minutes without interval the show does not outstay its welcome.

No doubt some will see this show just for the perv, but the show is a properly staged musical revue, with clever and slick choreography (the chef hats and bowling pins routine is a standout), and imaginative used of props (I’m sure Ikea would want to sell those lamps). The talent of the cast and the staging saves this show from being some tacky sleaze-fest, although there is a risqué moment with a video camera. 

Some may take issue with the subject matter of the songs. While the music is tuneful-Broadway-bland and the lyrics are witty, all the songs deal with male genitals (trying not to get aroused in the locker room with your teammates around, self-pleasuring, the many names given to the appendage) or aspects of gay life (being a porn star, a naked maid, a drag Entertainer, or trying to find romance).

It’s hard to stage a show like this without some camp, but when the men “de-camped” it gave the show an added air of freshness and vitality: e.g. Tim Carney’s masculine and sincere delivery of the window song. Talented cast member Josh Harrison told me after the show that the camp factor was in fact turned down for the Australian version.

Although the programme is well priced at $10, with lots of pics and only one ad, it has no cast bios or song list/credits. Perhaps there was a printer’s deadline for opening night?

There was a lack of diversity in the look of the cast: all are fit, slim, and white. I wonder how the show would have worked if the cast had different racial types, or men who are fat / scrawny / hairy / with bad skin/ amputees / wheelchair bound. Perhaps our prejudices about the human body need more challenge?

Peter Novakovich

Photography: Dario Gardiman

And Emma Bell's review

Well they’re naked, they’re boys and they’re singing! The title says it all. These boys have swung into Sydney to kick off their Australian tour which sees them head to Canberra, Wollongong, Newcastle and Melbourne. Naked Boys Singing is an off-broadway hit, having run for eleven years. This show has gone on to be performed internationally and for the first time you can see it down under.

The musical opens with a crowd pleasing pianist banging out favourite tunes to set the mood, then a few boys pop up in the audience exchanging a conversation via text on their mobile phones, I’m imagining they’re pretending they’re on the network Grinder as one of them says Hey, I’m 5 kms away. They then saunter down to the stage and sing a very cute and very gay little ditty That’s Al’.

The second number Gratuitous Nudity really sets the mood, the boys all come out with bowler hats covering their bits and perform a great group number to really get us raring for what’s in store. It’s very cheeky (!) and we get our fair share of pert buttocks’ before the full monty.

On the initial viewing of the full frontal nudity obviously everyone’s eyes head south, you honestly can’t help but size up (!) the boys different shapes, sizes and lengths. Let’s be honest, hardly ever do we get confronted with a bunch of broad-shouldered, spinning and grinning naked men. After awhile it really gets you thinking about how bizarre all this naked nonsense is and I suppose puts it in perspective. After about half way through you don’t even really notice they’re naked anymore, you’re just enjoying the singing and dancing.

The musical, directed by Jonathan Worsley, serves up a range of songs including Naked Maid performed by Chris McGovers and a jewish boy getting circumcised on a trolley in Bliss of Briss performed by Glenn Ferguson. Tim Carney sings Window to Window, a pensive lyrical song sitting at a windowsill, then Joshua Harrison, Tye Shepherd and Mitchell Roberts act as three teen boys worrying about erections in Fight the Urge. I Beat My Meat is a hilarious song where the whole cast is in baker’s hats and dancing with rolling pins, it’s absolutely hysterical and really takes the cake.

The show has obvious gay overtones but would appeal to any audience who fancies a good laugh and likes a bit of controversial fun. My main stab would be there appeared to be no hand held or head mics so although audible, unfortunately their voices didn’t seem very strong or very loud. Possibly this was a mic issue or perhaps there was an element of nerves present with the prospect of having to get ones kit off for opening night.

I’d recommend popping into this show for a peep. After opening night and nudist night I’m sure the cast will feel very relaxed in their own skin.

Emma Bell

Emma Bell is a writer, reviewer and interviewer and can be found at www.emmabell.com.au

Our earlier coverge - http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/news/all-singing-all-dancing-all-naked