As he approaches his civil partnership, Frank has some difficulty parting with his eclectic collection of costumes.
Author Stuart Wood must be praised for his attempt to create original numbers in the style of various popular performers such as Merman, Garland or Marie Lloyd but the book needs a serious re-think. The design concept here, created by Catherine Phelps, is a paradoxically sumptuous minimalist affair as she has poured vibrant colours into cartoon settings and matching costumes. Phelps’ fantasy world of rich colours and gaudy detail is easily the best reason to see this show.
Donna King seems woefully miscast as Frank and, given the holes in the libretto, what should have been the lynchpin simply becomes the dull moments between numbers. Carl Mullaney is to be praised for his portrayal of everybody from Lloyd through to Agnetha Faltskog via Garland, Merman and Julie Andrews.
Making a surprising appearance in the chorus is Debbie McGee who, along with Portia Emare and David Furnell, acts as a Greek chorus to the proceedings. Seeing McGee produce a seven foot spliff from her handbag and spark up shall remain one of the more bizarre things this reviewer has ever seen on the London fringe. Chorus boys have been supplied by Model Mayhem and their talent appears to have been honed in a gym rather than a stage school.
Muddled direction and unfortunate casting mar what might otherwise have been a fascinating idea with massive potential for development.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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