REVIEW: Bottoming for Jesus, Family Affairs Studio, EdFringe 2026 ★★★★

Before even entering Michael R. Speciàle’s Cabaret Confession, it was clear we were going to be getting an intimate look into his innermost thoughts, as we are given hand-written scribblings, torn out of a journal, with the promise that these will be needed later. Mine disclosed worries about body image and feeling alienated from the gay community. We waited expectantly to enter, already feeling welcomed in to Bottoming for Jesus with a promise of honesty and authenticity.

We are the congregation. Speciàle is our Priest. Red lipstick and blush is donned as the spirit of Judy Garland, the “patron saint of queer resistance”, is called upon. The ceremony begins.

In this part stand-up, part storytelling, part musical theatre extravaganza, Speciàle generously guides the audience through the story of how, aged 15, he converted himself to Mormonism and lived as a closeted gay man for so many years. Through hilarious observational comedy and bemused yet extremely detailed whiteboard presentations about both Mormon theology and gay theology, Speciàle attempts to unpick how he was able to deny his sexuality for so long, and reckons with his guilt and shame for being complicit – active, even – in such a harmful organisation for so long.

Speciàle gives a show-stopping performance, effortlessly switching between cute and candid confessional comedy and powerful and completely breath-taking singing. His resonant, velvety voice is gorgeous and so expressive as he questions why it’s so hard to find a sense of purpose, and helps us to understand his clinging on to the Church of Latter Day Saints to feel purposeful. Speciàle’s endearing charisma is perfectly matched by Musical Director and onstage pianist, as a performer + pianist Jeremiah Ginn, who we think, at the top of the show, will be a supportive accompaniment but becomes a key character in Speciàle’s coming-of-age story, a partner-in-sexual-transgression-crime, and this touch really added to Bottoming for Jesus‘ tenderness and warmth. Ginn is not only a skilled musician but also delivers a delightful acting performance.

With creative direction by Spenser Theberge, Bottoming for Jesus is superbly accompanied by playful and apt costuming, where the glamour of its opening moments is starkly contrasted by a typical Mormon garb (complete with tie and name-tag), and subtle yet striking lighting, designed by Zach Blance, creates pitch-perfect shifts from the light-hearted to the heart-breaking.

Finally, I was left touched by how, in Bottoming for Jesus, Speciàle skillfully handled the moments of audience participation in a way that allowed to genuine moments of curiosity and connection between ourselves, never once putting someone on the spot in a crowd-work / heckling-type fashion, but still allowing him to truly create the community of a congregation.

At times, I would have liked these scenes to last longer, delving further into the pertinence of the answers the audience gave; similarly, I couldn’t help but feel that Speciàle directly addressed the show’s heavier themes too early on. He could have build greater tension by leaving the forthright confessions of shame and guilt a little more mysterious for longer. That said, Bottoming for Jesus never felt bogged down in the serious or philosophical – rather, its writing and performance balanced tenderness with humour in a completely heartrending way.

A joyful and poignantly vulnerable show about the many versions of ourselves that exist, and which versions we choose to become and which version we have to forgive. This is guaranteed to leave a smile on your face.

Recommended Drink: Judy Garland’s alleged favourite drink – a vodka with grapefruit juice. It’s only right in the house of our lady.

You can watch Bottoming for Jesus at ZOO Southside until 30 August from 22:40 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Box Office.