Although my own Twink Death was a few years ago now, I still have fond yet terrible memories of my parents discovering gay porn in our family computer’s search history. If that sentence alone means anything to you then CRUSH is sure to hold a special place in your heart this festival season.
CRUSH written, devised and performed by Benjamin Quirk. Photography by Minni Karamfiles.
Benjamin Quirk is in yearning for self-acceptance, a romantic getaway, and for Timothée Chalamet (who isn’t). As he welcomes you to his clinic for crush reform it become clear that perhaps Ben would benefit more from participating in the clinic than hosting it himself. What follows is 45 minutes of sharp, observational gay humour of the best kind. We discover that unrequited love is ripping poor Benjamin apart! One particular highlight early on is a PowerPoint presentation that details the early signs of Ben’s homosexuality. As each increasingly ridiculous thing is raised he nods, knowingly, as if he were delivering a lecture on the renaissance (the historical cultural movement, not the Beyoncé world tour and subsequent film). The overall structure of the work is smooth and although this is only a short play, Quirk’s pace and timing is perfect. The audience is in very safe, moisturised hands with Ben at the helm.
CRUSH written, devised and performed by Benjamin Quirk. Photography by Minni Karamfiles.
Look some of the references are pretty niche and certainly for a Gen Z/elder millennial age bracket. However, if that’s you then Quirk has absolutely nailed the brief. The enthusiastic lean-in to the nuanced sense of humour of his target audience is perfect. His comic timing has the marks of Matt Rogers or even the primitive scratchings of an early Sean Hayes.
Sure! The ending feels a bit transparently tacked on the end… But does it have something poignant to say? No. But is it rich in theatrical devices? Also no. But did I laugh out loud several times? Absolutely. Crush is the masterful work of someone very smart making jokes that are very stupid.
Crush is playing at The Blue Room Theatre as part of Summer Night until January 27th. Tickets have now sold out.