The Drowsy Chaperone - TNT

If you're a sucker for the saccharine-sweet musicals of the '20s, there's a chance you'll enjoy this frothy spoof, which brings big production numbers into the basement flat of a nerdy Man in a Chair (played with ingratiating charm by co-author Bob Martin). When he puts on an LP of his favourite (fictional) show, it comes to life. It probably went down a storm when it surfaced in Toronto in 1998, but as a full-scale, full-price West End show it lacks variety. Summer Strallen's bride-to-be has amazingly high-kicking legs and Elaine Paige's fans will doubtless welcome her self-mocking, over-the-top appearance as the tipsy Chaperone. But there's something tedious about the obvious effort involved. Pastiche or not, this is one musical comedy that had me struggling to stay awake.
Novello, Aldwych, WC2, 0870-950 0935. Until February 23. £20-£55