Waterloo East Theatre 6 – 25 September. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
[Title Of Show] by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell tells the story of Bowen and Bell writing the musical [Title Of Show] for the New York Theatre Festival. Never having heard of the show before, I must admit that my heart sunk when I read the press release. A meta-musical – great. But [Title Of Show] is completely lacking in pretention and is full of charm, laughs and memorable songs.
Jeff and Hunter write their musical with the help of their friends Heidi and Susan, accompanied by Larry on keyboards. SR Productions have put together a fine cast that appear to be having a ball on stage. Louie Westwood is hysterically over the top as Hunter – embodying every gay MT stereotype imaginable. Daniel Mack Shand as Jeff is the calmer voice in the partnership, although his passion for the project comes shining through in the second act. Shand’s performance is a little more subtle than Westwood’s, but his comic timing is wonderful, and the pair play off each other brilliantly. The secondary characters (don’t feel sorry for them, they get their own song about that) make wonderful foils for the men. As Susan, Malindi Freeman gets to go completely loony tunes every so often with her frustrated office worker/jobbing actress character, but the bond between her and her ga-nerd friends always seems real. She gets most of the best lines and manages to create sympathy for her thinly written character without losing her kookiness. Chloe Hawkins as Heidi begins sweetly and quietly, but also gets to let rip and show her impressive comedy chops.
The Broadway references come thick and fast, ranging from the historical, through Chess, Rent and Wicked, right up to referencing Sarah Harding’s recent stage venture. The characters stop scenes to pick holes in the writing, correct each other’s pitch and grammar, or just to share knowing glances with the audience. At one point, when asked why she’s being so quiet, Susan replies “I didn’t have a line until now”. Musical Theatre clichés are embraced, with a ridiculous dream sequence, spirit guides providing inspiration (monkeys on speedboats – now THAT would be a musical), and montage numbers all milked for laughs. The writing is camp, bitchy, sweet and passionate. But mostly just funny.
The second act isn’t quite as energetic as the first, focussing on the struggle to get the show to Broadway, and with a very cheesy hint of jeopardy as Hunter begins to fall under the spell of the backers and wants to change the show to make it appeal to a wider audience. Jeff’s response that he’d rather be 9 people’s favourite thing than 100 people’s 9th favourite thing leads to a song (Nine people’s Favourite Thing) about sticking to your guns and not compromising that is corny and inspiring in equal measure. I loved all of the musical numbers, but Die Vampire Die – wonderfully insightful lyrics about criticism and self-doubt – was another that was moving and hysterical at the same time, helped by the insane choreography and Freeman’s biting delivery. Even the obligatory tear-jerking ballad A Way Back To Then, although sung hauntingly by Hawkins, is punctuated with Hunter describing the bizarre shows he put on with his brother when he was 10.
And those voices! With only a keyboard accompaniment there is nowhere to hide in this show, and the cast do a phenomenal job. The harmonies are spot on, and none of the performers lost power or energy as the show progressed.
[Title Of Show] is a fantastic night out – full of laughs and great music. I am definitely one of the 9 people after seeing this production.