Review | ‘Hot Gay Time Machine’ at Trafalgar Studios ‘leaves you wanting more’
The new production sold-out during Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is in London for a limited run
By Steve Brown
Words by Simon Button
The trouble with a trip in the Hot Gay Time Machine is that it just isn’t long enough. Transferring to the West End after a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, this two-man revue only lasts for 85 minutes with no interval and it leaves you wanting more.
More of the side-splitting banter between Zak Ghazi-Torbati and Toby Marlow. More of their lyrics (co-written, like the music, by Lucy Moss – who also directs the show), which veer from witty to filthy.
More of their pop-rock melodies, which are instantly catchy and delivered with madcap energy. More of everything, basically.
But when, mentioning no names, so many other shows are bloated and overpriced Hot Gay Time Machine’s brevity is actually a blessing.
And Zak (in dungarees, like a children’s TV presenter with no filter as he relishes repeating the word ‘cock’) and Toby (in ripped pink shorts, in comical thrall to his own don’t-give-a-shit fabulousness) are such breathless performers they’d probably need to be carted off in ambulances if the running time was any longer.
Egos very much intact, they time-travel through their own lives as gay men – discussing the pleasures of the boys’ locker room and dissecting the tricky business of coming out to parents, encouraging audience participation, throwing in a few tinkly bits for the festive season and ending with an everyone-welcome dance party.
Marlow and Moss also wrote the feted Six musical (which returns to London in January) making them and Ghazi-Torbati the brightest of new talents. And this show is one helluva hilarious trip – too short, yes, but well worth taking.
Rating: 5*
Hot Gay Time Machine is at Trafalgar Studios 2 until January 5th. For great deals on tickets and shows click here