Best Of Friends
Landor Theatre
Reviewed on Saturday 26th April 2014
Nick Fogarty's musical The Golden Voice was supposed to premiere at the Arts Theatre last June, but following a financial drama which resulted in the show’s producer being arrested on suspicion of fraud the entire run was delayed and then cancelled. Determined to succeed, Fogarty has adapted the show for a fringe venue and renamed it Best Of Friends.
Best Of Friends’ storyline is completely bizarre. The show follows Mike Chariot who, in just five or ten minutes, leaves his bandmate and pregnant girlfriend behind to enter an X Factor-style TV talent show competition. After winning the programme his music career eventually flops, so Mike runs a project to help upcoming musicians… and who ends up auditioning for him?! The son he doesn't know exists!
The storyline, which also features some awkward reunions, dodgy dealings and a random hostage scene, isn't awful but would benefit from a revamp. I'm not convinced that it's necessary for so much of Mike's back story to be performed at the start of the show, it's supposed to establish the story and characters but instead backfires.
The text is horrendous. The writing is awkward and, while some of the jokes suited a pub theatre atmosphere (I usually forget that the Landor is a pub theatre as the standard is often so high), if this show wants future life (which it certainly could have!) I think a fresh-eyed book writer will need to join the project and entirely rewrite the scenes and reshape the story.
The score is highly impressive - I loved it! The music brings something new and refreshing to the table and it was so nice to listen to something edgy and exciting for a change. Lyrically there are a handful of weak moments, but I would happily download a cast album tomorrow.
The cast gave everything they had. There were a couple of vocally tired voices, but at the end of a full on week this is understandable. Vocally Sarah Goggin and Rosie Glossop had some very strong moments; both are gifted with incredible powerhouse vocals.
Alex James Ellison carried the show as Mike's son Taylor. I loved his vocal tone, but it was Ellison's energy and natural charm that shined. Aidan O’Neill leads the cast well as Mike. He begins to build up a strong relationship with the audience, but then the character becomes underwritten in the second act. Should the audience feel a close bond to Taylor or Mike? I think this is still to be decided.
The Landor Theatre is proving to be one of London's most important fringe venues. It continues to build a strong reputation for supporting new writing and it is vital that we theatregoers continue to embrace it. Best Of Friends is nowhere near perfect, but it is bursting with potential. I am intrigued to see what the future holds for Fogarty's musical, I certainly hope this isn't the last we hear of it.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Best Of Friends runs at the Landor Theatre until Saturday 10th May 2014.
Please visit www.landortheatre.co.uk for further information and tickets.
Photo Credit: Matt Cocklin LRPS
Follow @West_End_Frame
No comments:
Post a Comment