OBAMA ON MY MIND To 21 March.

London.

OBAMA ON MY MIND
book, lyrics & music by Teddy Hayes.

Hen and Chickens Theatre, 109 St Pauls Road, Highbury Corner, London N1 2NA To 21 March 2009.
Tue-Sat 7.15pm Mat Sat 3pm.
Runs 1hr 30min No interval.

TICKETS: 020 7704 2001.
www.theobamamusical.com
Review: Geoff Ambler 5 March 2009.

.. or Oh, Barmy. In the extreme.
Billed as a celebration of the election of America’s first black president, Obama on my Mind arrives well into the post election Obama party. A show not about the man but one of the teams handling his campaign; a campaign, it seems, beset with infiltrators, bad press, a lack of funds and a musical to stage.

Opening with a Sarah Palin pig in lipstick skit, the cast of eleven appear pig hatted and tap dancing, but Obama on my Mind quickly moves on from this easier target to the task of making a musical about an election entertaining. While the outcomes of elections can be world shaking, shows about them, rare though they are, rarely are and this is no West Wing.

With the book, music and lyrics all courtesy of Teddy Hayes he alone takes the responsibility for creating eleven quite barmy characters, who are also the least likely people to take a part in shaping the future of a nation, and tries to lever them all, complete with their stories, sub-plots, songs and dances into a long ninety minutes. It is a crowded affair from which Director Tim McArthur unravels some very funny moments, aided by the consistently vibrant Lauren Appleby, an actress who would enliven any lacklustre election campaign and a frequent fringe delight; Victoria Croft, as vivacious and delightfully sexy Martha; and a wondrous Ellen Verenieks as Frances, the sole competence in the team, however Jackie Skarvellis as Mad Mary takes over the top to new heights, even for a tongue in cheek musical.

Extreme though the characters are the writing rarely lives up to their promise. The weight of the various storylines overwhelms and leaves little room for the laughs a shorter show can usually pack in. Obama on my Mind isn’t either a serious show with jokes or a lampooning musical with serious moments, it instead veers wildly between the two. Possibly a rewrite could be timed for Obama’s next campaign and if it still includes the marvellous Appleby, Croft and Verenieks then I will definitely give it another go.

Roxanne/Winona/Sweet Potato Pie: Lauren Appleby.
Martha: Victoria Croft.
Peter: Christopher Dingli.
Johnny Boy/Policeman: Nicholas Drake.
Charlie: Jamie McMillan.
Trish: Simone McIntyre.
Valerie/Sweet Potato Pie: Kay Milborne.
Curtis: Rhys Owen.
Frank: Rian Perle.
Mary: Jackie Skarvellis.
Frances/Sweet Potato Pie: Ellen Vereniek.

Director/Choreographer: Tim McArthur.
Lighting: Howard Hudson.
Musical Director: Chris Jerome.

2009-03-09 00:09:42