The North Star rises!
To round off Bury Pride, The Met showcased Hunter King’s debut musical with a fabulous title: A Northern Tr*nny Hootenanny. Written, performed and directed by King, we are taken on a rootin’, tootin’, musical journey of transition from Bolton milkmaid to Manchester cowboy.
King, also known locally as DJ Wolfy, founded and emcees Manchester’s popular Canal Street Kings. He is a pro at singing, dancing and lifting the crowd’s spirits with unparalleled energy. Now, in his one-man show, we are treated to an uninterrupted, hour-long performance that showcases his artistic and comedic talent.
Described as ‘Disney meets Dolly Parton’, this queer story is brought to life through a talking cow, country costume changes and King’s live vocals. Popular animated classic melodies, such as ‘Go the Distance’ and ‘Make a Man Out of You’, are redubbed with a transgender twist on themes of masculinity and self-discovery, while King glitters in sequin waistcoats and rhinestoned dungarees.
King makes full use of the space. He effortlessly interacts with offstage voices, barrels up and down stairs, and energizes the audience. Hidden details in the set make a play later in the show, often providing hilarious visual comedy. Multiple costumes, props and sound effects glitter and pop as King masterfully weaves his story.
Underneath the gleeful leaping and punning, there is also vulnerability. The musical is based on King’s own journey of discovering his identity, which is not without its hardships. A lesson he learns in the show is that the big city is not automatically more inclusive and accepting of differences. This was made more poignant by an assault King experienced before the performance, during Pride. Unfortunately, there is still violence and rising hostility towards the trans population.
King rounded off the performance with an emotional speech about the escalating difficulties currently facing transgender people, and the importance of building community. In a time where bigotry and harmful legislation are diminishing a group’s human rights, it’s all the more important to fight back, and share diverse voices. Stories like King’s need to be heard.
After the show, there was a table of King’s visual art, including prints and stickers, that commemorates the show’s characters and memorable moments. It felt very special to take home a souvenir made by the show’s creator.
Overall, King sells his ability as an all-round performer. Everyone who knows him believes in him, his talent and his power to unite an audience.
If you want a funny, emotional story that features drag and hilarity while wearing its heart on its sequined sleeve, A Northern Tr*nny Hootenanny is a must-see.