Thisispopbaby, founded by theatre and festival impresario Jennifer Jennings and playwright Phillip McMahon in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, quickly became renowned for creating potent, catalyst events in queer theatre. It set the bar with a unique signature style from the beginning: their presentations were a flamboyant and rebellious blend inspired by elements of performance art, burlesque, and musical theatre, making them quite the hit in developing performances that mixes inventive art experimentation with engaging amusement.
The triumph of these productions pivots more on the strength of the performers than is the case in more traditional theatre. Early on, they collaborated with Panti Bliss, to name one, and their recent successful show Wake highlighted spectacular performances from individuals including the award-winning pole aerialist Lisette Krol and choreographer Philip Connaughton.
One additional crucial figure among the array of the impressive talent involved in Wake was Emer Dineen, a performer of Irish heritage but raised in the UK. Dineen played the memorable character of DJ Duncan, a clumsy, endearing Londoner with a knack for engaging the audience. After this popular portrayal, Dineen is now the lead in 0800 Cupid.
Thisispopbaby’s latest production kicks off the moment the audience members step into the auditorium. An ambient disco tune is played by a three-piece band consisting of Tom Beech, Osazee Aiguokhian, and Michael McCarthy, which fuels the audience’s anticipation. Following some enthusiastic applause, Dineen’s alter-ego, Cupid, graces the stage which has been converted into Pinky’s, a London drag club. Cupid performs a lively song, brimming with confidence in their exceptional prowess in all matters of love, before being interrupted by a call: Emer’s girlfriend, Tanya, is on the other end wishing to call it quits.
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This abrupt rupture paves the way for a collection of autobiographical incidents, guided by Dineen, unfolding within a brief span in the metropolitan landscape. It preludes the unfolding events: there’s an ample dose of enthusiastic applause and flamboyant imagineering in 0800 Cupid as well as a deeply emotional, touching segment of musical drama exploring familial sickness, mourning, and intense existential solitude.
The talent of Dineen is unarguably astonishing. She undertakes multiple roles in this spectacle: creator of the plot, the conversations, the tunes, and the lyrics, and joins forces with Beech to create the musical composition. Each contribution mandates unique artistic abilities and perspectives, nonetheless, Dineen expertly synthesises them. She also showcases her virtuosity as an artist: her vocal spread is truly impressive, at times belting out powerful ballads, while at other moments she’s serene and self-reflective, and furthermore, she handles the emotional scenes with ease, transitioning between comedy and sadness with inherent grace.
However, her fellow stage companions, the sole other spoken performers, are paramount to the show’s triumph. Isabel Adomakoh Young and Carl Harrison skillfully rotate through a range of costumes and roles, all the while handling the excessive requirements of their individual singing and dancing skills. Standouts include Adomakoh Young’s superstar portrayal of the cosmos, and Harrison’s genuinely endearing representation of Bill, the apiarist.
The act is thoroughly enjoyable. It invokes laughter and tears in equal measures: a spectator couldn’t demand more.
The performance continues at the Project Arts Centre and is a part of the Dublin Theatre Festival, scheduled until Saturday, October 5th.