In a week dominated by riots firstly in the capital and then reverberating throughout the country it seemed vaguely suitable that I was in a theatre when it all kicked off. I had been invited to review David Hoyle: Unplugged as part of the opening season at the new and dare I say wonderfully appointed Soho Downstairs. A cabaret venue to rival the Pizza Express and the Leicester Square in all but affability – some of the staff there do appear to need the stick removing from their behinds! As if to add to the tension that had gradually risen through the day, Soho had a power cut. Not an uncommon occurrence but one that added to the uncertainty of the encroaching evening.
Riots and Soho aside, I was rather looking forward to Hoyle’s performance as I had heard much of his exploits and whilst I had not seen him live, I did watch with wonder at his early Channel Four broadcasts. As I mention in my review, Hoyle seemed remarkably tame compared to my memory of him. He also looked particularly dapper, swathed in scarlet, sequins with the trademark barnet tamed into rigid jet atop his carefully made-up face. I was expecting chaos but was served an almost gentle evenings entertainment complete with the third rendition of You Made Me Love You that I have heard in a month – (Liza and Rufus) – and in my opinion, the best. Bereft of his Divine David persona, Hoyle is reminiscent of an amiable, veteran Northern comic, made all the better as we are never quite sure if the demons might escape at any moment.
On an unconnected note I felt an overwhelming desire to paint him and then I realised Otto Dix had got there first. Hoyle’s image stayed with me all the way home as I caught up with the tweets of other Londoners either in the thick of the riots or completely oblivious to them, praising the latest production of Crazy For You at the Open Air Regent’s Park.
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