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The Review - THEATRE by NATALIE LI
Published: 3 May 2007

Comic capers in love and lust

THE THING ABOUT MEN
King’s Head Theatre

LIGHT- HEARTED comic relief has come to the King’s Head with the London premiere of Joe Di Pietro’s and Jimmy Roberts musical comedy, winner of the 2003 best off-Broadway musical award.
Tom (Hal Fowler), an adulterous New York advertising director, discovers his bored wife Lucy (Nicola Dawn) is cheating on him with the sexy bohemian artist Sebastian (Tim Rogers).
In revenge he plots to worm his way into becoming flatmates with Sebastian, who he begins to transform into an advertising director in the hope Lucy will lose interest in the newly reformed ‘suit’, Sebastian. Cringing moments of ducking and diving ensue as Tom avoids Lucy upon her visits to the flat – including his frantic sporting of a gorilla’s mask.
With music by Jimmy Roberts and a superb cast, one would assume a legendary evening of frivolity.
Bordering on the ridiculous in part, the strong vocal leads manage to enrapture, obliterating the memory of overly farcical moments.
Rapidly paced and with beautiful timing, the play’s real saving grace arrived in the interludes played by comic duo Tiffany Graves and Paul Baker. The expressive versatile pair breath fresh relief amongst the more stale moments of drawn out musical scores including ‘Take Me Into You.’
Tim Rogers, playing Sebastian, oozed every inch of the typical arty carefree spirit, wonderfully connecting with Nicola Dawn in the portrayal of a passionate whirlwind affair.
Every opportunity to remove his clothing is somehow weaved into the musical frolics. The garrulous Hal Fowler, playing the lead Tom, is a true caricature yet somehow pulls off his character to effect against the convincing Tim Rogers.
Far from indelible, this silly romp of a musical comedy will merely teach you that you ‘You Can’t Have It All’ as the finale musical score screams.
Until June 3
020 7726 1916

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