ZIPP! To 1 May.

Tour

ZIPP!
by Gyles Brandreth

Qdos Entertainment in association with Pocket Music Theatre Co Ltd Tour to 1 May 2004
Runs 1hr 30 min No interval
Review Hazel Brown 17 February 2003 at Lighthouse, Poole

A camp gallop through nearly every musical there ever was.This is Gyles Brandreth's baby' and he makes no bones about it right from the beginning in camp tones he assures the audience that, This is the show for people who love musicals and for those who hate musicals; as 100 are covered in 90 minutes, they need never go to another . . . . . . This is the Ryanair of musical theatre.

Indeed they do cover 100 musicals, starting with ten opening numbers in two minutes. The real singers, Amanda Symonds, a roly-poly brunette who resembles Cleo Laine in looks, is the soprano who belts out the songs; Shona White has a lovely light soprano voice; Andrew C Wadsworth is a fine singer, with a light comic touch; Stefan Bednarczyk ably accompanies them on piano and also joins in the action and sings; while Gyles himself mercifully adopts the Rex Harrison style of spreche-singing and supplies the links. Just in case you don't recognize the musicals, the titles are flashed up as surtitles.

The singing is certainly enjoyable, but, as most of the songs are abridged, leaving you often longing for more. Yet some of the skits go on too long, especially the Sound of Music parody. Andrew Lloyds Bank comes in for a lot of stick, too. Gyles Brandreth clearly enjoys himself, particularly in The Rocky Horror Show, and also being Dolly as he is wheeled across the stage one way - turning round to be Mame as he is wheeled back. The treatment given to Les Miserables is very funny, with a flag nearly beheading the cast, the Miss Saigon helicopter is hilarious and the all male treatment of Gigi's I Remember It Well is a moment to treasure.

However, I enjoy musicals and hearing one or two songs from some of my favourites just made me long to see the whole show and not be watching this camp gallop through some of the unforgettable pieces of music theatre alongside some of the better forgotten.

Cast:
Gyles Brandreth
Andrew C Wadsworth
Stefan Bednarczyk
Amanda Symonds
Shona White

Director: Carole Todd
Designer Simon Scullion
Lighting: Douglas Kuhrt
Musical Director: Stefan Bednarczyk

2004-03-09 23:40:17