As fans of the hit nineties TV series, we were excited – and more than a little intrigued – to see how it would translate into a musical stage show. Friends the Musical Parody has appeared in Las Vegas and New York and now visits…Old(e) York!
All the fan favourites are here, and each of the main cast of six offer a caricatured take on their roles. All are strong singers and dancers, and manage to successfully portray the Friends we know and love. Don’t except perfect lookalikes – or even soundalikes – but it’s the mannerisms that fill the boots best.
Perhaps the strongest tribute act is Eva Hope as Rachel Green; Hope could in fact be mistaken for a young Aniston. She plays her with a real heartfelt warmth, and compliments on-off love interest Ross Geller (Enzo Benvenuti) well. Benvenuti exaggerates every Gellerism, and openly admits that Ross is the character everyone loves to hate. Alicia Belgrade personifies the slightly neurotic Monica Geller, and has powerful vocals too.
Ronnie Burden certainly isn’t a burden to this show. He plays ‘hot but dumb’ Joey Tribbiani, and milks every swagger and “How you doin’?”. Amelia Atherton’s Phoebe is suitably ditzy and kooky, and she really pushes into the more bizarre quirks of the character. My only criticism is that she seems like a sidekick here to the rest of the gang, but as a creative choice rather than by ability.
Daniel Parkinson is a real crowd-pleaser as Chandler Bing, and nails every mannerism and sarcastic comeback. The seventh cast member is Edward Leigh who adopts a variety of roles throughout. A highlight is his Gunther, who desperately wants to be part of the gang. No spoilers but look out for Janice too…a firm audience favourite!
The production is full of toe-tapping new musical numbers, often linked to famous catchphrases such as ‘pivot’ and ‘we were on a break’. Presumably for copyright reasons though, many of the most iconic lines have been changed. Odd words are substituted here and there – such as Smelly Mom instead of Smelly Cat – and the tune of said song is all wrong. It feels that the die-hard Friends fans who love the source material would want, and expect, the original unaltered lines and songs.
Nothing is off-limits in this production, with digs at 90’s fashion, Monica’s endless list of ex-boyfriends, and even Jennifer Anniston’s real life love woes. Oh and it’s definitely not a family show – expect lots of sex references and the song Two Girls, One Condom.
Andrew Exeter’s set is a masterpiece. Beginning as the back of a TV studio set, each section turns to reveal a well-known room or location. The set is effortlessly moved around constantly by the hardworking crew, which adds a nice fluidity. There are no blackouts or scene changes, so the action comes thick and fast. Many iconic costumes and props appear too, to the delight of fans.
Highlights? Gunther is an unexpected hit. His paradox of limited dialogue is funny, and his Disneyesque solo Part of their Gang was my favourite. The energy and delivery throughout is commendable, and there are some real laugh-out loud moments.
Unfortunately sometimes the parody goes too far and feels too cutting. For a show that will inevitably draw true fans of the series, the production often mocks the source material to the point that it feels uncomfortable – as if the audience are being insulted for ever enjoying the show. Yes Friends perhaps hasn’t aged well, but it still has that nostalgia factor and is loved by many. Jokes about things like Matthew Perry’s fluctuating weight seem harsh too, with the actor having had a serious drugs and alcohol problem. These jibes don’t generate many laughs either, and feel out of place.
Pacing varies, and the first act is stronger – with the second half feeling more surreal and less polished. A technical issue also stopped the production for at least ten minutes, which is unfortunate and didn’t help with the flow.
This is a tricky show to sum up, but if you’re a fan there will be things here to appreciate. It’s unlike anything we expected and doesn’t always hit the mark, but is enjoyable overall and builds to a fun and Friendly finale.
Friends the Musical Parody runs at Grand Opera House York until October 4th. Book your tickets at https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/friends-the-musical-parody/grand-opera-house-york/
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
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