Come to the Fun Home!

I can’t remember exactly when I first heard about 'Fun Home' but I knew it had been a hit on Broadway so when I saw it was coming to the Young Vic in 2018 for a limited run I decided to get myself a ticket. My lasting memory of the show (apart from thinking what a wide stage the Young Vic had!) was that it was a moving and beautiful piece of theatre. So when the amateur licence became available earlier this year I jumped at the chance of putting it on in Cambridge.

It’s difficult to describe 'Fun Home' as it’s not your typical musical. It moves in and out of music and dialogue almost seamlessly, it has a very cinematic feel, the story is not linear, and almost all the action takes place in the past. But it’s funny, sad, awkward, moving, and tender and, while I’ve seen many musicals over the years, Fun Home is still unlike anything I’ve seen before.

Here are some interesting things about the show which I hope will encourage you to book tickets!

1: 'Fun Home' is based on a true story

'Fun Home' was originally an acclaimed graphic memoir written by lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel reflecting on her difficult relationship with her father, the discovery of his hidden homosexuality as she herself was coming out, and her attempt to make sense of his suicide. The musical was in development from 2009, debuting off Broadway in 2013, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and music by Jeanine Tesori. The Broadway production started previews in March 2015 and ran until September 2016.

2: Fun Home was Alison’s nickname for the Bechdel Funeral Home

Alison grew up in her family’s Pennsylvania funeral home where her father was the funeral home director. Fun Home was the nickname Alison and her two brothers gave to the funeral home as they played amongst the coffins, hence the title of both the book and the musical. The musical moves between three narratives - adult Alison looking back on her life, teenage Alison attending Oberlin college, and young Alison growing up in the Bechdel Funeral Home. It may not be a typical setting for a musical but the mix of humour and tragedy is what makes the show so moving.

3: Fun Home was the first broadway musical to feature a lesbian protagonist

There have been many gay characters portrayed on stage but they are usually male, or women in sidelined roles. 'Fun Home' was one of the first Broadway musicals to feature a lesbian character in a leading role. The representation of a young gay woman taking centre stage, her story not just limited to her coming out experience but also exploring her family relationships and her childhood, was groundbreaking. One of the most famous songs from the show, Ring of Keys, is sung by young Alison as she sees a butch lesbian woman in a diner and for the first time recognises someone that she identifies with. It’s a powerful moment in the show.

4: Fun Home made history at the 2015 Tony Awards

'Fun Home' was the first show written entirely by women to win the Tony Award for Best Original Score. Lisa Kron also took away the award for Best Book of a Musical. 'Fun Home' was nominated for a total of 12 Tony Awards, winning 5 including Best Musical. 'Fun Home' was also a finalist in the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

5: Finally, the Bechdel Test was named after Alison Bechdel

You’ve probably heard of The Bechdel Test, a measure of the representation of women in films and in fiction. To pass the test, a film or TV episode has to satisfy three points. It must (1) include at least two women, who (2) have at least one conversation about (3) something other than a man. Alison featured the test in her long-running comic 'Dykes to Watch Out For' in 1985 but since the 2000s it has grown in popularity as a way of drawing attention to female stereotypes in film and Television. Luckily, 'Fun Home' passes the Bechdel Test!

Fun Home
Tuesday 24 - Saturday 28 September 2024, 7.30PM
Saturday 28 September 2024, 2.30PM
ADC Theatre

Click here to book your tickets!