Rating: ★★★★
Venue: The Other Palace, London
Cast: Joseph Beach, Ross Clifton, Martha Pothen and Holly Sumpton
Will the Prime Minister finally get his Christmas wish? Will Mark steal his best friend’s new wife? Will we give the nation’s most beloved Christmas film a cheeky, festive kick in the mistletoe?! You’re damn right we will! Get ready for another hilarious and downright dirty Christmas adventure. From Downing Street to The Other Palace, this naughty musical parody will remind you that, deep down, we’re all just Lovers Actually.
The 2003 film, Love Actually, is a firm Christmas classic. And with an all-star cast with the likes of Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Colin Firth, it's no wonder this cheesy festive rom-com is celebrated every year. Lovers Actually is pitched as the "ultimate naughty musical parody" of said film, so expectations were high going into it. Was Christmas all around? Could we feel it in our fingers and (motherfucking) toes? The simple answer is: yes.
I'll preface this by saying that like many parodies, this is for the true fans of the original material. If you haven't seen the film, you'll likely find yourself confused at times and the plethora of references and easter eggs will likely go unnoticed and underappreciated. However, as an avid fan myself, this was everything I expected, and more.
The cast of four tackle every role effortlessly, and with wig and costume changes for every different character, it's a wonder they can keep up at all! The talent onstage is simply incredible. In particular, Martha Pothen shines brightest with her role as the Prime Minister's tea-lady...or as she's known in Lovers Actually, Tiffany from Eastenders. Her comedic timing is second to none, and I found myself magnetised to her whenever she was on stage. In saying this, all four actors have standout moments, such as Joseph Beach's portrayal of Billy Mack's "Christmas is All Around", Ross Clifton's portrayal of the bumbling, quintessentially British Prime Minister, and Holly Sumpton's scarily accurate portrayal of the jilted Emma Thompson. The four share chemistry in a way that can only be found on a smaller stage with a small cast; managing to keep each other in check when the fourth wall is broken (and this happens a lot in such an intimate theatre space!).
The set design from Louie Whitemore is visually pleasing in the shape of a gift-wrapped present. However, it did seem quite impractical at times, with doors getting stuck and latches with props not quite opening when they should. However, with this being a comedy, it only added to the laughter and the chaos of the production, and the cast handled it effortlessly.
Despite it being advertised as a musical, it almost feels like the music is secondary to the "plot" itself. I say plot, when in reality, it really just is an amalgamation of sketches from the show, adding their own filthy twists and mocking some of the original questionable storylines...it is over two decades old, after all! There are some wickedly funny songs, with a rendition of "Jump" that has to be one of the most innuendo-filled songs I've ever heard. "I want his hobnob in my gob" was a particular highlight. Props to Neil Hurst and Jodie Prenger whose writing is simply brilliant in this. It's worth mentioning...this probably isn't a show to take the kids to!
With parodies, it's important they don't take themselves too seriously, but also remain somewhat truthful to the source material. If you've ever wanted to see Liam Neeson's character from Taken, Professor Snape and Tiffany from Eastenders on the same stage...this is the show for you! It's ridiculous, witty and most importantly, overflowing with festive fun. The energy and talent of the cast is what truly makes this show the success it is. One thing's for sure, the message of the show is clear: "If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
You can book tickets to see Lovers Actually, here.
**photo credit: Pamela Raith**
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