Charing Cross Theatre 3rd July – 19th August. Reviewed By Jessica Brady
World War 2, a time in history filled with battles, heart break and heroism amongst many other things, but it was most certainly a time where love was what pulled many people through dark days. To find love in unexpected circumstances is where Yank really tells a story that we may assume existed but wasn’t broadcast in that turbulent time and is full of attitudes that today are thankfully less prevalent. What starts with a young man’s interest in an old journal he finds in a junk shop, ends in a young G.I’s discovery about his sexuality and love for another G.I.
Stu [Played by Scott Hunter] is an 18 year old naive boy when he joins the US Army; he isn’t like the rest of his ultra manly squad who spend their free time thinking about their wives, girlfriends or woman in black and white films of the era. He realises soon after meeting a fellow squad member, Mitch [Played by Andy Coxon] that he is developing feelings that are more than just friendship. Stu struggles to get to grips with army life and is more focused on writing in his journal, documenting daily the thoughts, feelings and encounters he has whilst training. On the night his squad are sent to their first base, Stu opens up to a tipsy Mitch, thanking him for being kind to him and helping him whilst training. Stu admits he loves him and Mitch, surprisingly reciprocates and after a tender kiss quickly retreats and shuns Stu for making him do it. Stu feeling lost and alienated meets Artie [Played by Chris Kiely] who photographs for the Army magazine YANK at a bar, and Artie immediately notices that Stu is gay like him and takes him under his wing. Artie teaches him the ways of the homosexual lifestyle in the army, where it is illegal to be gay, dangerous and with little chance of survival on the frontline, hence his job as an army journalist taking him of the front line with the opportunity to be who he wants to be with the right people. Noticing that Stu has a journal he offers him the chance to become a writer for YANK and takes him out of his squad and away from Mitch. On his 13 months away from his squad Stu discovers who he really is and when he gets a letter from a fellow squad mate saying one of their troop has been killed and that Mitch has gone into himself since, he requests to write a piece on his squad in the hopes that Mitch will finally admit who he really is to himself.
YANK! Is like watching an old war movie that I wish had been made in that time and was one of the classics we know now! The score is like listening to a 1940’s radio show, songs filled with feeling and passion and great musical dance numbers. I was hooked into the story immediately as each member of the cast is outstanding. Scott Hunter leads this show with complete skill and is one of the most talented actors I have seen in a long time and his vocal and dancing talents are simply out of this world. His co star Andy Coxon has such charisma and a voice that could melt butter it’s so smooth and gorgeous that you truly are taken back to that era. The pair has electric chemistry and makes the whole story so believable and heartfelt that you are willing them to pull through each obstacle and live happily ever after but sadly this is not the case. A special mention must go to the fantastic Sarah Louise Young who is the only female in the cast and plays a multitude of roles to perfection and often brings moments of brilliance to an already astounding show. The cast of 12 is utterly spell binding and I left Charing Cross theatre with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes!
This show is one of pure beauty and completely transfixes you the from start to finish and it really puts into perspective the long journey the LGBTQ community has gone through and continues to go through and I think that is such a strong and important message to take from this show, that love is love and no matter who it is you fall in love with, you move mountains to keep that love. PLEASE GO AND SEE YANK! It will blow you away and stick with you for so many reasons. Catch it at the Charing Cross Theatre 3rd July – 19th August.