To be perfectly Frank
FRANK’S CLOSET, a music hall musical, is being staged in Hoxton Hall from 8 – 25 July. It is part funded by the Arts Council, and local people will be offered discounted admission.
The show itself is a celebration of the women that shape gay culture. The plot-line combines traditional and contemporary themes of identity and transformation. It unfolds around the protagonist, Frank, who sets to work clearing out his closet on the eve of his civil partnership ceremony.
The closet in question contains an exotic collection of Diva frocks, which provide the narrative pretext for an extended reflection on the gap between reality and the imaginary, the human and the divine.
The score by Hackney-based composer Stuart Wood reinterprets popular musical genres with intelligent and catchy style. A composer and musical director who trained at Goldsmiths College, Wood works from his studio in Hoxton, from which has emerged a diverse collection of work, ranging from musical theatre to film and television commercials.
Frank’s Closet’s opening song, ‘To Be Perfectly Frank’ has already received accolades, having been nominated for the prestigious Styles and Drewe Best New Song of 2009 award.
The Hackney connections of this musical also feature in its content. One of the many divas impersonated over the course of Frank’s musings is Hoxton-born Marie Lloyd. Christened Matilda Alice Victoria Wood, ‘Marie Lloyd’ began her career singing temperance songs in church halls. From these humble and virtuous beginnings she evolved into one of the most famous English music hall stars of all time, known for her the raciness of her early-twentieth century songs. Lloyd’s heritage lives on in the exuberant humour of Frank’s Closet, which promises to be a treasure of a performance.
It is directed by Ian Burton and stars Donna King (known for her role in CATS on Broadway and the West End), Carl Mullaney (of West End Chicago fame) and Debbie Magee (with innumerable credits).
The venue for the show, Hoxton Hall, is an imposing Grade II listed building on Hoxton Street. It is in the 145th year of the its existence, and is one of the four remaining music halls in the UK.
Since 1863, the hall has had a strong artistic presence in the community. The ‘saloon-style’ theatre features a two-tier galleried auditorium and a multi-tiered stage which has largely escaped the ravages of remodelling. For many years the hall was used as a Quaker meeting house; it now serves as a community centre and performance space, hosting a varied selection of experimental music and theatre.