Police Cops: The Musical Review

Southwark Playhouse – until 14 October 2023

5*****

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

This gloriously silly pastiche of 1980s police films is insanely smart and absolutely hilarious. The laughs are non-stop and musical numbers capture the nonsensical eighties vibe brilliantly.

Writers Zachary Hunt, Nathan Parkinson and Tom Roe dig deep into the cliches of 1980s cop buddy movies and ramp up the absurd comedy with spectacular results. They also wrote the ridiculous lyrics for Ben Adams’ eighties/musical theatre mashup score which is equally nostalgic and rib-tickling for those of us who grew up playing the soundtracks to cheesy films on cassettes.

When his sister is shot, young Jimmy Johnson vows to become the best darn Police Cop ever. He grows up and achieves his goal, but the search for a drug kingpin may have connections to his sister’s death, and the chief of police sends Jimmy to collaborate with renegade Police Cop Harrison. But does the chief have a sinister motive for sidelining Jimmy? As Jimmy’s quest to bring down the man who shot his sister takes him to Mexico, he meets old friends and forms unlikely alliances as the parade of physical comedy, sight gags and ridiculous costumes (especially for Parkinson) gathers pace to the obligatory final showdown between our tiny band of heroes and the bad guys. The unbelievable exploits of movie heroes are referenced in an “inspirational” song to prepare for conflict, and the fight choreography is wonderfully relaxed for the good guys as villains are frantically attacking. The prejudices and attitudes of the eighties are front and centre to be satirised, with audience participation in a song about racism providing one of the highlights of the show. The Police Cops are American, so they shoot first and ask questions later, and the way the show represents the guns, violence and deaths as silly cartoon violence with anonymous bad guys being dispatched with abandon is a fantastic representation of the equally ridiculous exploits of the blockbusters we grew up with.

Melinda Orengo and Natassia Bustamante provide stellar vocals – Bustamante’s particularly unhinged ex-chief of police is a hoot and Orengo is a wonderfully earnest love interest for Jimmy. Hunt’s sweet and driven Jimmy is relatively sane, and Hunt almost manages to keep a straight face as Parkinson and Roe create mayhem around him in a range of brilliantly bonkers roles. The song and dance numbers fit in cleverly with the plot, adding an extra layer of nonsense and performed impeccably by the cast.

It’s not subtle, but it is very clever and painfully funny – a fantastic musical comedy that shines in its absurdity. Grab a ticket while you can.