‘Ode To Joy (How Gordon got to go to the Nasty Pig Party)’ is James Ley’s newest play which explores the darker and more explicit side of gay culture. It follows Gordon on a journey of discovery which takes him down a path of sex, drugs and sportswear. ‘Ode To Joy’ is currently playing at 18:20 at Summerhall until 28th Aug (except 15th & 22nd).
Brian Evans brings us a rollercoaster of emotions and hysterical antics as Gordon. Initially, we are introduced to Gordon with such innocence and vulnerability, however, Brian’s performance drives the narrative of discovery, embracing Gordon’s desires and taboo habits to present a thoroughly engaging character development. The inexperienced nature of Gordon, which Brian perfectly depicts, elevates the humour and makes the audience cringe even more when the character tries to be someone he’s not. There is great emotion present within this performance, the moments of weakness and sorrow are unfiltered, they make the audience truly sympathize with Gordon. The chaotic moments which embrace the absurd are done superbly. Brian truly hits the varied notes of this text brilliantly.
Marc MacKinnon is magnificent as Manpussy/Tom. As the narrator of this production, my god he’s fabulous, the moment he steps on the stage there is a certain elegance and engagement which hooks the audience in. The gloriously camp humour and unfiltered delivery of confessions really give us some of the funniest moments of this play. Not only that but his narration also makes you feel like you are tripping along with the characters. One of the highlights of this performance is Manpussy’s STUNNING entrance into the club, the audience’s reaction was riotous. This is an incredible performance from Marc.
Sean Connor is hysterical as Cumpig/Marcus, he is the epitome of someone with an addictive personality. We see great humour in this portrayal, but as the audience; we are able to acknowledge the toxic traits in this character. That’s thanks to Sean lowering Cumpig’s wall to show Marcus’ vulnerability. This is a fun and complex portrayal which shows the high and low points of this lifestyle.
James Ley’s script delves into taboo subjects with such an unfiltered scope, he unapologetically writes and directs scenarios from gay culture which are rarely platformed in mainstream entertainment. Plus, he takes an absurdist approach which simply heightens the action for the audience, making it more effective and letting them live out the sensory overload of Gordon’s experiences. Cinderella is mentioned several times in the text, and it’s clear to see some inspiration James has taken from that fairytale, just spliced some drugs, alcohol and explicit sex scenes into the mix.
Simon ‘Simonotron’ Eilbeck’s music places us in the atmosphere of the German night club and he makes us feel very much present in the unfolding scenarios with the assistance of Susan Bear’s sound and the lifting of Emma Jones’ lighting. Cleo Rose McCabe’s costume design is the best I have seen at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022. It is simply stunning, the notable mention has to be Manpussy’s “sportswear”. It’s flawless.
‘Ode To Joy (How Gordon got to go to the Nasty Pig Party)’ is a raunchy and drug-fueled absurdist piece that leaves audiences questioning their existence and whether they are mundane for not delving into the taboo aspects of life.
Get tickets for ‘Ode To Joy’ Below:
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ode-to-joy-how-gordon-got-to-go-to-the-nasty-pig-party
Theatre Scotland 
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