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Obama bandwagon veers off course
OBAMA ON MY MIND
Hen and Chickens
LESS talk, more action – a criticism levelled at many a politician, and something this musical comedy could certainly learn from.
It all started so well. A lively opening number lampooning Obama’s “lipstick on a pig” comment, with a perky Sarah Palin in a pig-suit, whipped me up into a positively American state of euphoria.
Half an hour later, and only three songs in, silk purses and sows ears were springing to mind. Let’s hope Obama’s honeymoon period lasts a little longer.
Following the lives of an excessive number of characters working at an Obama campaign office, there’s little but chat happening on stage and some extraneous subplots happening off.
Thin jokes, thin characterisation and several thin voices; the only thing that isn’t thin is the chance of a West End transfer. And if you thought the US election dragged on for a while, then try 100 minutes with no interval.
Director/choreographer Tim McArthur makes the most of the ensemble numbers, jazzing them up with some leg kicks and Fosse arms, and the show-within-a-show finale is so bad it’s good, with girly trio The Sweet Potato Pies doing the Running Man, robotic dancing and Nazi salutes.
Mundane lyrics add little to an already patchy plot and dated musical arrangements are reminiscent of 1980s keyboard demos. The show’s title number has a great hook, but lacks the necessary welly from Simone McIntyre.
There are some standouts – Victoria Croft as Martha, seducing with her ample charms, and Ellen Verenieks, as put-upon Frances, both match their confident, stage presence with strong vocals.
My hopes were high for a production influenced by the man of the moment, but this manages to take most of the “musical” and all of the “comedy” out of musical comedy. Oh well, the audacity of hope eh?
Until March 21
020 7704 2001 |
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