Sophie Ricketts reviews False Idol, written and performed by Andy Manning, directed by Melanie Luckman, and produced by Ben Freeth, at Little Andromea, Friday 1 March 2024.
The theatre was dark, and from the shadows emerged a cloaked figure who began to play powerchords on the centre-stage keyboard. Dramatic lighting and gospel-esque sounds signalled to us that we were in for a sexy, rock’n’roll, religious experience.
Andy Manning’s solo cabaret, False Idol, debuted with a bang on Friday night. The show description promised us “a rousing musical sermon at the altar of gender euphoria, queerness, and shameless self-love. Touching themes of identity, self-love, queerness, family and fabulous outfits, it’s just like going to church, only funnier and sexier.” And wow, it delivered in surplus. The full house worshipped with a fervour reminiscent of religious frenzy, with whoops and hollers cascading across thunderous applause.
The show is autobiographical, charting young Andy’s spiritual awakening and subsequent reawakening throughout their gender-identity journey. It is full of the nostalgia of high school Easter Camp, the adventure of moving around the world, the rush of fully-realised self expression through fashion, and the true enlightenment reached upon the arrival of the member of a new generation. The cleverness of the lyrics was equally matched by the wit and warmth of the music they’ve written for this show; “Listen to the Harmony” was a masterclass in musical emotion navigation.
Andy appeared in a shroud of black vinyl, their pink nail polish and ginger moustache twinkling under the stage lights. We were welcomed in with a warm and passionate song, setting the tone of the show with the powerful message to “Love Yourself”. It was part pop-rock Jesus Christ Superstar, part confessional cabaret, and all types of fabulous. The personal story combined with the universal topics of gender in sports, and bathroom politics, gave us plenty to laugh about but also called on us to reflect. To have someone so proud, so strong, and magnificent say “I see you, and you matter” is a truly powerful thing. Every time someone stands up, and stands out, for who they truly are it makes the world a safer and more interesting place.
In the first half of the show I laughed so hard, and so loud, I momentarily feared I might pop a stitch from a recent surgery. My face hurt from the width of my smile. In the second half I shed some tears: for Andy, for my queer friends, for my transgender friends, for each non-binary person in my life, and for all those who feel “othered”.
The biggest takeaway: this show is a celebration of pure love. And how could we not take up the call to worship at the alter of “us”? How could we resist the sexy pull of self-esteem and self-actualisation being prophesied? So please, Andy, take me to church. Tell me where and when and I’ll lift my hands in praise beside you again and again. What could possibly be more divine than self-realisation?
Andy is performing this show in Wellington at the New Zealand Fringe Festival with performances March 6-9, then taking it to Nelson Fringe Festival with performances March 22-23. In both of these places the ticket prices are criminally cheap for a show of this standard. Andy is an exceptionally talented musician, songwriter, and performer: truly a ten out of ten for talent. I encourage those in Wellington and Nelson to make seeing this show a top priority, and if you’re given the option to top-up your ticket price with a performer koha, please do. You’ll be so happy you made a donation to the collection plate. A-Them!
Go see Andy preach in Wellington and Nelson.
Flat City Field Notes 