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Pictures: Pamela Raith Friends – the Musical Parody Malvern Theatres **** Friends was a classic TV series that ran from 1994 to 2004 and became effectively a cult. Devoted followers enjoyed its humour, its characters and its edgy plot lines. This musical parody is already attracting large audiences of fans who loved the series and are taking a joyous ride down ‘memory lane, reliving the experience with elements of parody and mick-taking. The show focuses on six young adults in their 20s and 30s who share a flat in Manhattan and who reflect the culture of a society that has moved from the mores of traditional family and marriage, who are in a culture of permissive and flexible relationships, where values and commitment are very much less defined. Plot lines are not particularly important, the keys are the relationships and the humour. This musical parody adopts some of the key fluctuations in relationships that develop over the 10 years of that original series, heightens the characters and adds some strong music and dance routines. The essence is fun! As the show ends, couples settle into longer term relationships. Like good Shakespearean comedies that ended with happy marriages, the central characters mostly end up with satisfying couplings. This is a very lively, energetic and colourful show. The house was full, clearly fans of the series who knew and loved the characters, the relationships and plot lines well and could answer the quiz questions confidently!
There was great audience engagement. Edward Leigh was the warm-up guy who introduced the show with confidence and humour, as well as playing some small roles in the show. He engaged us all brilliantly and established an excellent rapport and atmosphere. His small cameos as Gunther, Tom Selleck, Paulo, Marcel etcetera were hugely entertaining. Although it is very much an ensemble show, there is a strong focus on Rachel and Ross, played by Eva Hope and Enzo Benvenuto respectively, and the ebb and flow of their relationship. Enzo has the right height and gangly physique to achieve great comedy. Amelia Atherton as Phoebe Buffay has a great voice and brought power to the vocals, Alicia Belgarde as Monica Geller was very lively; Ronnie Burden as Joey and Daniel Parkinson as Chandler completed a team that were very strong in a whole range of skills – singing, dancing, puppetry along with comic timing and performances. The set and the scene changes were brilliantly designed and executed, the lighting skillfully used – altogether this was a strong and skillful production with engaging characters in their lostness, often gratuitous innuendoes, but human warmth and ability to laugh at themselves. The show runs at Malvern Theatres until Saturday 29th. Tim Crow 25-11-25 |
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