BWW Reviews: [title of show], Landor Theatre, August 12 2013

I had my doubts. I wondered whether this slick, very American, off-Broadway/Broadway musical about musicals would work so well on the London fringe. I wondered whether the humour would translate; I wondered if the theatrical in-jokes would fall on deaf ears.

I needn't have worried. Admittedly, on press night, the audience is likely to be full of musical theatre aficionados - I was utterly thrilled that a passing mocking reference to Chess (a beloved cult classic in the UK, revived in different formats every so often, whereas the US seem to have given up on it) actually got HISSED.

And yes, this smart, funny, self-referential show might be a little too meta for some - writers Jeff (Simon Bailey) and Hunter (Scott Garnham) put together a musical about the creative process simply to enter into a musical theatre festival - but there's no doubt that everyone will appreciate something that's so snappily directed (courtesy of Robert McWhir), fast-paced, and perhaps most importantly brilliantly sung.

Working in a space as small as the Landor means that vocals and harmonies have to be spot-on - there's no room for error and nothing to hide behind, and this four-person cast are pitch perfect. Susan (the impressive Sarah Galbraith) and Heidi (Sophia Ragevelas) sing a faintly ironic, heavily knowing song about being "secondary characters", but they are just as crucial - and impressive - as the men around whom the show is built.

And yes, you might get more out of it if you're familiar with the Broadway oeuvre; but even if you're not, this is a funny, sincere "original musical" that will be enjoyed by anyone who's ever had a passion - and a dream.

[title of show] is running at the Landor Theatre.

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