I was recently in London and managed twelve musicals in eight days – and believe me, I would have seen more had I could (the lack of Monday matinee was frustrating). The additional purpose of my trip was to attend the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, and I managed to see a musical while I was there too.
I thought, considering many of these are currently still playing, that it would be fun to rank the musicals I saw from worst to best. Note, none were bad, but something has to come last.
12. Mrs. Doubtfire: The Musical
I had the same issues with the musical as I did the 1993 film it’s based on, being that I find the character of Daniel Hillard (originally played by Robin Williams) incredibly annoying. When Hillard first begins running off the list of impressions he can do, I thought “oh no!” but the character eventually becomes more tolerable as the musical goes along.
Props must go to Gabriel Vick who does an incredible job paying honour to Williams while making the character his own. The supporting cast is strong, but the musical is left down by a forgettable score. Those who enjoy/ed the film will probably get more out of it than I did as it stayed close to the film despite some minor changes, including the ending, as well as an interesting fashion show.
And yes, impressively, Vick changes from Hillard to Doubtfire before your very eyes.
11. Frozen: The Musical
Frozen: The Musical has played in Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Singapore and Germany, and that’s a testament to the quality of this production. The musical boasts lavish set and costume design and does well to capture that same magical quality from the 2013 Disney film of the same name. Additional musical numbers are added to pad the runtime while elements from the film are removed, this does mean it’s slow to start but once it gets going, the musical moves quickly. I can only guess this was a deliberate move to make the earworm Let It Go close the first act.
My favourite character has always been Hans, so it was a welcome surprise to not only see him take on a more feature role but also get his own song (Hans of the Southern Isles), reprise and more. Children will chuckle at Olaf, Sven and the Duke of Weselton if they can manage to stay in their seats for the required prolonged period of time. But there was snow, and it was magical.
10. Back To the Future: The Musical
I had high hopes for Back To The Future The Musical, based on the 1985 film of the same name starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, which was probably my first mistake. A good musical should feature songs that propel the story forward, but this show fails to do that unlike in Mrs. Doubtfire or Pretty Woman. Notably, 21st Century, although fun, colourful and catchy, it ultimately ends up as a pointless sequence that sees Doc Brown (Cory English) dreaming about the future.
Additionally, apart from the recognisable Johnny B. Goode, The Power Of Live and Back In Time, the score is forgettable (although I did like Put Your Mind To It). However, where it does excel is in the show’s special effects – I have seen better in other productions but those new to the theatre will marvel. Alternate Marty, Will Haswell, did brilliant to capture the carefree exuberance of Marty McFly, but stand out for me was Oliver Nicholas as George McFly.
There are some minor changes, including the ending. The bubbles were a magical touch. Also – has anyone thought about how messed up the story actually is?! Remember, she wants to f her son.
9. Ain’t Too Proud
Full disclosure, I missed most of the first act of Ain’t Too Proud due to delays on public transport so I can’t vouch for the whole show, but what I did see I thoroughly enjoyed. Had I not already paid for a last minute rush ticket/wasn’t so short on time, I would have seen it in full another day.
The jukebox musical is based on the lives of The Temptations. Being unfamiliar with the American vocal group’s history, I learnt a lot and recognised some songs like If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Papa Was A Rolling Stone and What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted. Their story was more interesting than similar biographical musicals I’ve seen before. Seeing as the band were most popular during the 1960s and 1970s, unsurprisingly I was one of the youngest people in the theatre. Overall, it was really well done, emotional, dramatic and featured some incredible choreography.
8. Pretty Woman: The Musical
Pretty Woman: The Musical was one I was indifferent in seeing but it exceeded my low expectations and I found it incredibly charming. At the time of viewing, I hadn’t seen the 1990 film of the same name that the musical is based on, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. I did, however, end up watching it on one of my flight’s back home and noted the almost verbatim dialogue. Out of the twelve musicals I saw, this one had the most production value in terms of large set pieces and props.
With music and lyrics by Jim Vallance and Grammy Award winning artist Bryan Adams, the score has the feel of late ‘80s-early 90s rock, with Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman sung during curtain call.
7. A Thong For Europe
A Thong For Europe is interesting because playwright Jonathan Harvey came up with the idea for the musical the night Liverpool won the right to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Featuring a score of iconic songs from past Eurovision Song Contests (from Boom Bang-a-Bang, Better the Devil You Know, Space Man, Phoenix and more), the storyline involves a woman named after the UK's 1969 Eurovision winner and her quest to scatter her mother's ashes on this year's Eurovision stage. Oh, there is also a ghost, kidnapping, clowns, puppets and more.
I attended the matinee on the day of the grand finale of Eurovision, which felt appropriate, and sitting in the theatre amongst people dressed up in colourful costumes or with different coloured flags, it really was a celebration of everything that makes Eurovision so great.
There were a couple of in jokes about Liverpool which I didn’t understand as well as digs at Australians being in the Eurovision Song Contest, but overall, it was still enjoyable and well done.
6. How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
Currently playing at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 17 June 2023, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying is my first introduction into gender fluid casting. The musical traditionally features a heavily male cast, with Daniel Radcliffe, Matthew Broderick and Ralph Macchio all famously having played the ambitious lead, J. Pierrepont Finch. Here “he” is played by Gabrielle Friedman (she/they), while the head boss Mr. J.B. Biggley is played by Tracie Bennett (she/her).
The story is about young, go-getter J. Pierrepont Finch who, with the help of a book, rises from window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company. If you can get past the gender pronouns, this production is well acted, sung and produced. Additionally, Elliot Gooch (Bud Frump) and Allie Daniel (Rosemary Pilkington) were the standouts for me.
5. The Great British Bake Off Musical
The Great British Bake Off Musical was the show that kicked off my whole adventure as it was one, I was most excited to see as I assume it will never come to Australia. It’s not exactly like the reality television series it’s based on – as we speed through baking challenges, we get to learn the contestants as someone is sent home “week by week.”
While the characters aren’t wholly original, the musical has wit, facts about the show and in jokes about past series. John Owen-Jones (Phil) and Haydn Gwynne (Pam) capture Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith – including Paul’s trademark eyebrow raise and Prue’s love of booze – even when dressed as scones (which does happen). I don’t remember any other songs except Slap It Like That (which is by far the best!) but I remember the sentiment, joy and frustration over the end result.
4. The Choir Of Man
Joyous is how I would describe The Choir Of Man. I had no interest in seeing it as I’m not overly a fan of jukebox musicals, but it was the only show available to me during a Friday matinee, so I grinned my teeth and it ultimately ended up being one of my favourites.
Celebrating community and friendship for only 90 minutes, the show features songs by artists such as Queen, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry to name a few. Some audience members are brought up on stage and free beer and snacks are handed out making it one of the more unique theatre experiences.
As the Poet (Conor Hanley) celebrates, ‘we will never be in the same room with these same people in this same situation again', and that makes for a unique show every time. For example, during the performance of Teenage Dream between the Poet and a female audience member, as he sung, “Let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans” and she did.
3. Heathers
Heathers is based on the 1989 film of the same name, staring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty and more. For a musical that has dark undertones (teen suicide, bullying, sexual assault, etc.) it’s actually quite colourful and upbeat – a black comedy, as they say.
I had gotten last minute rush tickets, so I had a front row seat so was a foot away from Veronica (Miracle Chance) thrusting on J.D. (Ellis Kirk) during their prolonged sex scene (totes awks!) as well as looking up at Ram and Kurt’s (Cristian Zaccarini/Will Breckin) junk during curtain call. I had seen Kirk in Dear Evan Hansen three years before, so it was nice to see him again in something I ultimately equally enjoyed.
2. Eugenius!
Eugenius! surprised me in the best possible way. It’s all about the geek prevailing, and I left the theatre feeling super pumped and wanting to throw my fist into the air with an enthusiastic “Don’t shoot for the stars, shoot higher. Go Eugenius, go Eugene!”
It’s a little bit clunky, but its catchy tunes, funny script and numerous 80s pop culture references made this musical a winner for me. It’s also the perfect example of a production that doesn’t need large props and sets to excel. Joseph Beach as Evil Lord Hector was over-the-top, campy deliciousness.
Eugenius! has sadly finished its run that the Turbine Theatre, but the score is available on Spotify sadly without “sleep, eat, poop, repeat.”
1. Bonnie & Clyde
Entering the theatre, you’ll see a singular smoking gun shot in the centre of the stage screen, but few will see the gun shot holes that surround the set of the stage. The lights fade, and immediately Bonnie & Clyde begins with a round of gun fire over the loudspeakers as lights flicker behind the strategically placed gun shot holes around the set. It’s then I knew this was something special.
My favourite musicals generally have a darker element to them, and Bonnie & Clyde has easily become one of my favourite theatre going experiences to date, so much so that had I been staying longer I would have seen it again the next day (I did return the next day to buy a hoodie). The memorable score is a combination of rockabilly, blues, gospel and rock. Bonnie & Clyde is well produced, engaging, with brilliant performances by Frances Mayli McCann and Jordan Luke Gage.
Dangerous, seductive and “holy sh*t it was amazing” is the best way I can sum it up!
No comments:
Post a Comment