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A CurtainUp London London Review
Forbidden Broadway


"she dumped me for reasons not fully specified by the librettist" — from Forbidden Broadway's version of "Once is Enough"
Forbidden Broadway
Anna-Jane Casey, Ben Lewis and Damian Humbly from the Les Mis sketch (Photo: Alastair Muir)
Making a most welcome return to the Chocolate Factory is a newer version of the witty musical revue, Forbidden Broadway with more references to the London musical stage experience than ever before. The two women Anna-Jane Casey and Sophie-Louise Dann from 2009 return in a multiplicity of roles, with sterling work from the dressers helping with the numerous and rapid wig and costume changes. Ben Lewis and Damian Humbly play the male roles, except in Jersey Boys where Anna-Jane takes on the Frankie Valli falsetto, "Walk like a man, sing like a girl". Miss Trunchbull from Matilda and Billy Eliot look at the child stage labour actors. The Book of Mormon gets their "Hello" song wittily rewritten.

This is definitely the show for those who are up to date with London musical theatre but many of the jokes are also accessible for all. Les Miserables gets the usual lampooning, here a victim of its longevity as they sing "Ten Years More", a new lyric to one of the five repeated wonderful tunes from that hit musical. The recreation of the revolving stage on a stage that doesn't revolve has to be seen to be believed. I still smile whenever I remember it. We see Eponine, the Thenardiers' daughter (Anna-Jane) singing "On my phone" instead of "On My Own" as she grapples to pass the lonely time waiting for her big song by texting her friends behind the scenes.

Your favourite shows will not escape the satire. Characters from The Lion King tell of their experiences with the osteopath after wearing the giant animal headdresses "Can you feel the pain tonight?". Miss Saigon is set in Viet Numb, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's stuck elevator (from the less artistically inventive Chocolate Factory than the Menier and the less successful Roald Dahl musical than Matilda) and "the chaos that is Once" do not escape lightly. There is the unforgettable lyric"Once is Enough"and I found myself agreeing with Forbidden Broadway's critical assessment of these three shows.

Cameron Mackintosh, the theatre impresario gets his own number "The Americans Cream" and the final number talks about corporate sponsorship as we face the financial realities of the West End and Broadway. This song "Broadway Belongs to Me" is the Nazi anthem from Cabaret. Ticket touts offer to squeeze us into "The Pajama Game"with huge irony. There are sketches which work less well in London: for my money, the Minelli, Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin, and Hugh Jackman's Broadway solo show but these misses fade into insignificance compared to the many delightful, titillating moments of sheer laughter. Forbidden Broadway is an absolute must for fans of musical theatre and a jolly good evening for everyone else!

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Forbidden Broadway
Conceived and written by Gerard Alessandrini
Directed and choreographed by Phillip George

Starring: Anna-Jane Casey, Sophie-Louise Dann, Damian Humbly and Ben Lewis
Musical Direction: Joel Fram
Set deign by Morgan Large
Costumes designed by Morgan Large and Alvin Colt
Lighting: Nick Richings
Sound: Gareth Owen
Running time: Two hours with an interval
Box Office: 020 7378 1713
Booking to 16th August 2014
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 3rd July 2014 performance at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Southwark street, London SE1 1RU (Rail/Tube: London Bridge)
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