The Musical of Musicals
Rating: ★★★
Venue: Phoenix Arts Club, London
Cast: Jennifer Harraghy, Renan Teodoro, Caroline Featherstone and Joseph Dennington

Don’t miss The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), the hilarious parody that pays tribute to the legends of musical theatre. 5 musicals. 1 plot. Each hilariously mimics the styles of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, and Kander & Ebb. Packed with clever nods and musical theatre brilliance, this 90-minute Razzle Dazzle is a must-see for every Broadway Baby! Whether you’re one of the Ladies Who Lunch or a Superstar, this Perfectly Marvellous show promises plenty-a Showtune and Comedy Tonight.

'A Musical of Musicals (The Musical)' is a sharp-witted parody that affectionately pokes fun at the world of musical theatre, it’s meta in the best way and jam packed full of ‘in-jokes’ for any musical theatre fan. Directed and produced by Matty Hurst, with musical direction by Jack Bennett, the show delivers a single melodramatic plot; a young ingénue unable to pay her rent played out 5 times over 90 minutes, each in the distinctive style of legendary composers: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Kander & Ebb, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Eric Rockwell has done a wonderful job with the music, each section so clearly sounds like something that could have been written by the composer(s) the section is regarding.

The cast made up of Jennifer Harraghy, Renan Teodoro, Caroline Featherstone, and Joseph Dennington work brilliantly together. Their performances were marked by strong comedic timing and an evident passion for musical theatre. Along with the book by Rockwell and Joanne Bogart there are plenty of laughs to be had throughout the show. It highlights the roller skating during the ALW segment and the Sweeny-Todd-esque portrayal in the Sondheim parts perfectly.

The Phoenix Arts Club, with its cabaret-style seating and its stagey décor is the perfect place for this show but unfortunately the venue's acoustics presented challenges; there were several issues with audio balance between music and vocals, and frequent microphone dropouts meaning so much of the performances were lost and this really detracted from my ability to enjoy the show. The cast gave it all their best shot with all the enthusiasm and gusto they had, but sadly it wasn’t enough to completely save the performance.

'A Musical of Musicals (The Musical)' offers a delightful evening for musical theatre fans. Its clever parodies and enthusiastic performances mean it’s certainly an enjoyable show, but the tech problems mean I would probably wait until it moves to a venue more suited to its needs to see it again.

You can find out more about The Musical of Musicals (The Musical), here.

Review by Rosie

**photo credit: Nigel Martin**