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Show: I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical
Society: London (professional shows)
Venue: Crazy Coqs (part of the Live At Zédel programme), 20 Sherwood Street, London W1F 7ED
Credits: Music and Lyrics by Alexander S. Bermange. Produced by Fane Productions.
Type: Sardines
Author: Chris Abbott
Performance Date: 11/04/2018
I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical
Chris Abbott | 12 Apr 2018 17:46pm
Crazy Coqs is one of London’s growing list of cabaret venues, but in an unbeatable location just off Piccadilly Circus and with the attractive and busy Brasserie Zedel just across the foyer. It’s a great place to see solo performers working to a small audience, but with I wish my life were like a musical there were five performers on stage, all of them at the top of their game.
Composer and musical director Alexander S. Bermange (surely he didn’t need the extra initial because Equity had another Alexander Bermange?) is a congenial presence at the piano, and sings one or two of the numbers himself, and most effectively. The rest of the evening is in the hands of a quartet of skilled performers, and the theme of this musical revue is the whole experience of musical theatre – the title coming from just one of the songs.
It’s good to have revue back on the London stage although this really feels more like a workshop for a longer musical theatre piece, since we don’t get the variety of characters or styles that would be expected in a traditional revue. What we do get, however, and most enjoyably, is 75 minutes of witty lyrics and pleasant melodies.
Suzie Mathers wins over the audience with her plea from the heart about being the guest spot while the star gets changed and reminds us later how it feels to be stalked. Her best number, however, is her full-blooded delivery of one of the stronger numbers of the show, The Diva’s in the House. Oliver Savile is an engaging presence whether in his solos or as part of the group, including his song of despair at the demands of directors. Liam Tamne contrasts well, whether bemoaning the boredom of a long run or joining the others in singing of how it’s lovely being a luvvie – hard-hitting satire this is not… Diana Vickers gets the title song, not in itself representative of the show as a whole, but with a nice hook and she knows how to make us listen. Later on, she also gets to sing of her increasing disappointment that all the men she acts with seem to be gay.
This spirited cast are at the best when singing together, and even manage to navigate some lyrics that seem off-key today, such as light-hearted references to sleeping with producers. It’s a very pleasant way to spend an hour or so with a drink in hand (and not at ATG prices either), and these are hard-working performers; although it’s surprising to see them relying on cue cards for the linking dialogue, which could easily be dispensed with anyway.
And yet… it is 75 minutes without much variety – no songs for elderly bitter musical has-beens, over-enthusiastic fans or soap stars imported to sell tickets for example, characters which would have enabled the cast to demonstrate their versatility rather more than they do here when they just mention those people. Revue needs to surprise and offer variety as well as tuneful music and skilled singers if it is to regain its place on the London stage.
- : admin
- : 11/04/2018