Looking for John

As a tribute to an ice skater who, in 1976, won European, Olympic and World titles, Looking for John works hard to reinstate the reputation of a man now largely forgotten, without managing to echo the skill of the athlete it’s dedicated to.

Tony Timberlake’s solo performance traces his personal connection to John Curry, known as the "Nureyev of the ice" and outed as gay by the media within 48 hours of winning Olympic gold. Though clearly impassioned, and interspersed with gently comic moments—such as a comparison between personal achievements (Curry was being watched by Andy Warhol and Lauren Bacall at around the same time that Timberlake achieved three O Levels)—the show can feel clichéd as Timberlake describes the “invisible thread” that he feels connects him with Curry.

Looking for John is at its most poignant when revealing details of Curry’s landmark achievements, contrasted with the memorial void that followed his death, aged just 44, of Aids. Visiting a statue of Curry in Sheffield, Timberlake found it cordoned off by crude barriers, and was told it would be decorated with a Santa hat come Christmas.

The show also captures Curry’s troubled psyche—"thinking is the worst thing a person can do", he claimed in a letter—and the challenges of being openly gay during his career. Where Timberlake’s delivery lacks nuance, however, the end of this show is redemptive; just as Curry’s performances and persona were progressive, Timberlake finally affects real change by campaigning for a blue plaque to commemorate the champion skater.

 

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/looking-for-john