UK Theatre Network

The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), proves yet again that under the leadership of Aaron Clingham, All Star Productions is a leading flagship of creative excellence on the fringe.

Written by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart, The Musical of Musicals is a comic satire of musical theatre genres, and mocks the work of different composers with one repeated storyline – June can’t pay her rent.

Rodgers and Hammerstein are the first to be parodied. Corn! is set in Kansas in August, and evil landlord Jitter threatens June with marriage if she doesn’t pay for her room. Mother Abby advises June to "follow her dream", and it all ends happily when Jitter’s marriage arrangement is terminated due to daylight savings time. The piece has musical and textual references to Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific, the King and I and the Sound of Music, and this satirical referencing sets the trend for the four following scenes. A Little Complex cleverly dissects Sondheim’s works with a merciless pastiche of overly-complex lyrics and dissonant music. Jitter is now a Sweeney Todd type landlord wanting to kill his neurotic tenants because they don’t appreciate his artwork. Dear Abbey makes mischief of Jerry Herman’s overly camp Hello Dolly and Mame, while Andrew Lloyd Webber’s work is ribbed in Aspects of Junita, with suggestions that his music is plagiarised from classical composers. June has evolved into Evita clone Junita, with her nemesis becoming Sir Phantom Jitter. Finally Speakeasy set in Chicago re-tells the non-paying rent story one last time in the jazzy style of Kander and Ebb.

All the cast excel in the many roles they play. Maggie Robson however steals the limelight with her hilarious interpretations of Follow your Dream, We're All Gonna Die and Easy Mark. Steven Sparling also displays great vocal and acting versatility as ‘Sweeney’ Jitter, the phantom and the emcee Jutter. There is slick musical direction from Aaron Clingham, and Lydia Milman Schmidt’s direction is on top form. This is complimented by highly imaginative choreography from Brendan Matthew’s.  

This comedic gem has a short run of ten days. Hopefully it will be revised at a later date. More please!

OLIVER VALENTINE       

Run until 26^th August.  www.allstarproductions.co.uk