(3 / 5)
If any of you were a teenage girl, you will have had a “boyband” moment – the moment where you were obsessed to some degree with their music, their looks and were convinced you were destined to marry one of them. For me, this was punk and emo bands but I definitely get the hype and we all know the “Take That” euphoria stereotype.
MAN!FEST: The Drag Boyband does exactly what their production company says on the tin: they provide a production that is very on the nose about boy bands. We meet the group, comprising of 4 very different characters, but ones we all recognise in a boy band: the quiet shy one, the athletic girl-mad one, the bad boy and the posh boy. Together, they provide unique songs, all perfectly catchy but, when you listen closely, the lyrics reveal something a little darker or highlighting male stereotypes. Think, a song about leaving you on read, or telling you everything you want to hear as a teenage girl about your attractiveness and worthiness. But between interpersonal relationships and the dodgy demands of their production company, the cracks start to form and chasm. And soon, this boyband aren’t the perfect men after all (not that they ever were).
The production is full of unique and one off songs. They are so quintessentially boyband-esque, with toe tapping beats and a catchy-ness you would find hard to forget. When you listen closer, the lyrics are something unsavoury, reminding me much of my adult years of listening to old songs and suddenly knowing what the lyrics now mean. Their ability to pull this off and put thought into it is commendable and the attention to detail is fantastic. This is accompanied by impeccable choreography that N Sync would be jealous of. The performers have a great ability to show the tension in the group while still being able to “perform” and we can then see the trajectory of this demise woven throughout.
While entirely enjoyable, there felt like there was something missing. It was easy enough to get involved and at no point did I feel boredom. I was invested. And I will always be impressed with anyone who can sing, dance, break dance and still sing without gasping for breath . But the story-line over all hit a flat note for me. I know it’s a slight cop-out to not give more reason but maybe, for me , it just missed the mark.
MAN!FEST: The Drag Boyband is an enjoyable production, harking to all our inner teenage girls and our unobtainable idolisations. But something was just missing to give it the wow factor.
