Friday 07 August 2009 15:31 GMT
In the last few years this intimate theatre has done an excellent job of reviving musicals and can boast an impressive handful of West End transfers to boost their coffers. With the confidence of past success (and a tried and tested cast, most of whom have appeared at this address before) its latest venture takes a mocking look at these and other major musicals of the last few decades.
First conceived in 1982 by American Gerard Alessandrini as a showcase for his own talents as a lyricist, these spoof versions of familiar songs have been regularly updated during its incredibly long New York lifetime. He’s kept the tunes but ditched the words, and, for the current London version, even The King and I’s recent brief outing at the cavernous Royal Albert Hall gets a look in, as does the short-lived Spring Awakening.
Some numbers bite more than others (the short Avenue Q lampoon absolutely nails it) and, at times, there’s a definite lack of subtlety. But with countless quick fire costume changes and infectious gusto, the talented cast keep the pace fast and effective as the characters from the everlasting Les Mis are caught up on a perpetual revolve and impresario Cameron Mackintosh’s fondness for lucrative merchandising is mercilessly mocked.
It wouldn’t do any harm to scrap a few of the older numbers, but if you know your shows, it’s great fun from start to finish. If Mary Poppins and Cats are all you’re familiar with, though, you may not get the full incongruity of a sluttish 30 year old Annie drawing on a fag and complaining that she hasn’t worked for 20 years, and you might find yourself struggling a bit with the subtleties of a clever parody of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George.
But you’ll get a taste of some of the catchy melodies you’ve been missing, and, if you’ve seen them all before, these tantalising reminders might well make you want to see the best of them all over again. Either way, you can’t really lose.
First conceived in 1982 by American Gerard Alessandrini as a showcase for his own talents as a lyricist, these spoof versions of familiar songs have been regularly updated during its incredibly long New York lifetime. He’s kept the tunes but ditched the words, and, for the current London version, even The King and I’s recent brief outing at the cavernous Royal Albert Hall gets a look in, as does the short-lived Spring Awakening.
Some numbers bite more than others (the short Avenue Q lampoon absolutely nails it) and, at times, there’s a definite lack of subtlety. But with countless quick fire costume changes and infectious gusto, the talented cast keep the pace fast and effective as the characters from the everlasting Les Mis are caught up on a perpetual revolve and impresario Cameron Mackintosh’s fondness for lucrative merchandising is mercilessly mocked.
It wouldn’t do any harm to scrap a few of the older numbers, but if you know your shows, it’s great fun from start to finish. If Mary Poppins and Cats are all you’re familiar with, though, you may not get the full incongruity of a sluttish 30 year old Annie drawing on a fag and complaining that she hasn’t worked for 20 years, and you might find yourself struggling a bit with the subtleties of a clever parody of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George.
But you’ll get a taste of some of the catchy melodies you’ve been missing, and, if you’ve seen them all before, these tantalising reminders might well make you want to see the best of them all over again. Either way, you can’t really lose.
Menier Chocolate Factory , 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU ( 020 7907 7060) Until 13th September (£15-£25 & Meal Deals available)
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