Fun Home - Gate Theatre, Dublin

I loved the Broadway production and saw it three times. Judy Kuhn singing Days and Days broke my heart.

We were in Dublin for 10 days with very little planned. We’ve seen well over 100 shows so far this year and my partner joked that it would be a nice change to take a few days without seeing anything.

Obviously, I had already booked Fun Home at the Gate Theatre …. Oops.

Heh - I had booked these a while ago, before the show opened. Three front row tickets cost me a total of £68.26 (including fees/exchange rates) on my credit card statement. I was a bit worried as when I booked we were the only tickets sold and it looked to be the same for most of the time we were in Dublin so I'd been a bit worried it might come to an early close.

Well, it opened to fairly universally positive reviews, extended and was totally sold out the night we went and well deserved too.

A very strong cast, and a lot of layers to the story. I really liked the multiple versions of Alison, I loved the reactions and gestures from Frances McNamee as Alison. Sure it is easy comedy looking back at the cringe or mistakes of youth but this was so well done.

I've never seen Kieron Donnolly before but was aware of the name. In one of his solos towards the end, there was an almost a sudden lightbulb moment - and it became instantly easy to see how he’s played so many of the major MT roles, he does such a great job at making you feel for Bruce throughout.

The kids were all great, Small Alison (we had Chloe Cody) in particular belting out her numbers. Some of the kids' comedy moments were brilliant, I thought there might even be a pause for reaction more than once, their coffin dancing seemed on the verge of an ovation at that point.

Changing My Major was just lovely, funny and lovely, an absolute highlight.

Three curtain calls at the end. Funny, smart, touching, I loved everything about this and I would very happily see it again if it makes its way over to London.

Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron visited last night. I'd imagine they were very happy.

I too went i completely blind and like you was (simply) blown away when it played here in London.

I still get goosebumps thinking about it.

The Young Vic production (2018) was excellent, with Zubin Varla giving a great performance as the father.

For anyone interested, there is an interesting documentary about Alison Bechdel and how Fun Home came to be.



This documentary also give a bit of a background on Alison's father.

Co-incidentally, the actress playing older Alison herself was a lesbian and all three Alison's in the show were nominated for a Tony Award.

For the eagle eyed amongst you out there, the character of Alison in the show can be seen in the Sunday sequence in the recent Tick...Tic...Boom! movie.