Simon David bursts onto the stage in a bout of eccentricity that boldly asserts his dominance over the evening. His body-hugging black leotard reveals him to be a man without inhibitions who is happy to strut his stuff in pursuit of his goal. And no, he is not a drag queen; he’s just a cute-looking young guy, a ‘twink’ in gay parlance, who is determined to grab a record deal that will change his life forever. Stardom awaits!
A powerful performance packed with punch
What distinguishes him from the thousands of boys with the same dream? Virginity. He’s got it and he’s holding onto it. For him, it’s a unique selling point that raises him above the level of the rest. While others might have lost their cherry at the earliest opportunity he chose to rise above the lure of lust, something he found not too difficult when dealing with girls. Setting all carnal desires behind him he is able to devote all his energy to parading along the path to pre-eminence.
In Virginity the character is the person, and while David may not be seeking a career as a pop star he is certainly looking for a secure place in the world of cabaret. With this performance that is virtually guaranteed. He exudes confidence and sleekly displays his talents. The voice is powerful and the words are clear. He can take the audience from moments of tender reflection to belting bravura. Then he weaves into the show his other musical accomplishments. In a display worthy of a true queen he requires the pianist to leave her position to hand him the instrument he is about to play, even though he is standing next to it. Divas clearly don’t bend over to pick things up, though this one can do the splits.
His ability on the saxophone is the first instrumental surprise. It’s a ‘Wow, he really can play it’ moment when we appreciate that there is more to this precocious performer than meets the eye. It’s a joy to the ear and could develop into whole other show. Then comes the accordion. He sits to squeeze out a haunting melody, but the display of dexterity with the long fingers flitting over the keyboard and pressing the buttons is also a visual delight. Finally, one more talent has to be displayed as he accompanies himself on the keyboard, knocking out yet another gutsy song. Throughout he has the backing of a trio that unobtrusively yet powerfully supports his act.
The comedy flows and his engagement with the audience affectionately draws people into his show. Even as he mounts a chair over someone he remains unthreatening. The scripted parts of the show flow without hesitation. It’s in the ad-libbed, improvised moments that he betrays just a glimmer of nervous vulnerability in almost under-the-breath asides that come with a little giggle.
Overall, it’s a powerful performance packed with punch that’s ideally suited to the late evening slot. David is firmly established on the path to success and has has passed a few milestones already. There will be many more ahead, but the way is clear and the destination is in sight. One question remains: ‘Will he lose his virginity on the way?’.
