Pippin

TNT

Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and Roger O Hirson’s 1972 musical portrayal of Pippin (son of the Emperor Charlemagne) and his search for an extraordinary life originally ran for years on Broadway, but just a few weeks over here.

In an attempt to make it appeal to a modern London audience, Mitch Sebastian’s revival yanks it into the 21st century and the world of video gaming where Matt Rawle’s charismatic Leading Player guides Harry Hepple’s attractively-voiced, if somewhat anaemic Pippin through the various levels of his journey.

But although it’s blasted by laser lighting and CGI, punctuated by recreations of Bob Fosse’s original sinuously angular choreography, and dressed in Lycra, the production fails to generate much interest in the fate of its laptop-addicted Pippin. Ironically, the highlight of this high concept reworking turns out to be his happy clappy granny (Louise Gold) dishing out words of wisdom and encouraging the audience to sing along in traditional seasonal style.

Menier Chocolate Factory , 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU Tube: London Bridge Until 25th February (£33.50 & Meal Deals available £40.00) menierchocolatefactory.com