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The Review - THEATRE by SARAH FOX
Published: 20 March 2008

More, please…

ENTERTAINMENT... MY ARTS!
Arts Theatre

FOR seven years, the Blag Theatre Company have been making satirical swipes at the enflamed egos of directors and producers.
While their earlier efforts appealed more to industry insiders, their latest once-weekly show, Entertainment… My Arts! humours a wider audience. Whether you consider yourself a musical buff or not, the pinpoint parodies of Broadway and West End musicals (Mary Poppins, Chicago and Avenue Q were on the lampoon list on the night of our visit) should raise a smile.
Five actors and a pianist wrote the witty lyrics, which they deliver with maniacal grins a la “Cherie Blair” and deliberately over-exaggerated dance moves. They sing about extortionately priced merchandise, health and safety mishaps and unconvincing stunts, which the audience lapped up. The actors dance and sing like talented professionals, making the parody even more amusing rather than an amateur, plagiarised flop.
Although the company clinched a West End spotlight, the actors enhance the mockery by performing on a small stage with a cheesy glittering gold backdrop – a far cry from the opulent sets and props of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals.
My favourite was the Oliver skit. A woman sang “I have a cockney voice” to the tune of “Who will buy”, holding two strategically placed melons. As a fan of musicals, I had more fun in this show of matted wigs and lumpy sock breasts than any West End extravaganza I have seen. The comical costumes and stage imperfections reminded the audience of the light- humoured intentions and leaves us saying ‘Please Sir, can we have some more?’
Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 9.30pm
0870 060 1742

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