Boy Bands. The concept alone should send a shiver down your spine. It may be a good shiver. It may be a bad shiver. But it’s there. A tangible reaction. As the cultural monolith that was the gender-specific super group slowly slow fades to credits to be locked forever in elevator muzak and round-the-world final reunion tours, they are now finally gone enough to be properly present. You only know what you’ve got until its gone. And with boy bands what we got was Wannabe.

Wannabe is a solo piece devised and performed by Guy Langford. He plays the four remaining (one choosing to focus on a solo career) members of Brotastik. Brotastik were by all accounts the biggest band in the world. Bigger than ABBA, better than the Beatles. Now they are back. On the final stop of the final leg of their final final reunion tour. Each of the members gets a moment to monologue in the spotlight, each venting a little secret something (on reflection, the previous phrase seems obscene and I apologise for it) to the audience. Peppered between each monologue is a song performed with vim and energy by Langford.

Langford takes the stage by force, giving a performance that was much a demonstration of admirable technical skill as it is entertainment by sheer force of will. Together with director Erina Daniels, Langford has crafted an extremely successful and entertaining work, and with all its attendant success hopefully a return season is not too far away.

Wannabe
Devised and performed by Guy Langford
Directed by Erina Daniels

Part of the 2010 Fringe Festival.