FRIENDS Musical Parody
I’ll Be There for You… The six most iconic Friends (plus Gunther) have dropped into the New Victoria Theatre on their UK tour!
Phoebe (Amelia Atherton), Joey (Ronnie Burden), Rachel (Eva Hope), Monica (Alicia Belgarde), Ross (Enzo Benvenuti), Chandler (Daniel Parkinson) and Gunther (Edward Leigh)
Ross (Enzo Benvenuti), Rachel (Eva Hope), Monica (Alicia Belgarde), Chandler (Daniel Parkinson), Joey (Ronnie Burden) and Phoebe (Amelia Atherton) are brought to life as the cast recreates some of the most memorable moments from the sitcom’s ten seasons. We follow the gang through the ups and downs of careers, dating and friendship, all set to an original score with musical numbers that might sound just vaguely familiar, from musical references like Cell Block Tango and Part of Your World to the iconic Smelly Cat. For me, the show fell into an odd middle ground. It was not serious enough to be a heartfelt tribute, but also not exaggerated enough to work as a full parody.
The show is hosted by Warm Up Guy (Edward Leigh), who breaks the fourth wall at the start of both acts. While this was a fun addition, it did not add much context to the show that followed. At first, I thought they would lean more into the idea that the audience was the live studio audience watching episodes of Friends being filmed. This concept was implied through the soundstage-style set design (Andrew Exeter), screens projecting Recording in Progress, crew walking the stage prior to the official start and a live feed camera projected onto the main screen at the back of the stage. However, the screen is rather small, so even from the front of the stalls the video was difficult to see. I cannot imagine what the dress circle could or could not see.
The set, designed by Andrew Exeter
The majority of the Friends were portrayed very well, with performances capturing the characters’ speech patterns and physical mannerisms in a recognisable way. At times it was truly like seeing these character right in front of you. A couple of the roles, however, did not quite land as convincingly. The performers were clearly talented, but some of the characters’ quirks and over-the-top personalities felt a little flat in comparison. Especially for the most over-the-top personalities in the show, it was surprising how flat they felt by comparison. Not in ability, but in capturing the quirks that make those characters so iconic.
Standout performances go to Daniel Parkinson as Chandler, who also doubles up as another well-known Friends character. No spoilers here, but the show cleverly plays into the dramatic irony of asking both characters to be on stage at the same time. Edward Leigh also shines in multiple roles, delivering a heartfelt performance as Gunther, including a moving rendition of Part of Your Cast.
Jennie Quirk’s costume design hits the nail on the head, with visual callbacks such as Rachel’s Episode One outfit, Central Perk looks, Monica’s Thanksgiving turkey head and Joey wearing all of Chandler’s clothes. Fans of the show will appreciate the attention to detail across the wardrobe.
The show aimed for a parody with a capital P, but landed somewhere between homage and parody. It could have pushed further, which left it feeling a little lackluster. At times, the performances leaned more toward replication than exaggeration. Not necessarily a bad thing, but when parody is in the show’s name, it sets certain expectations and reduces the opportunity for a truly bold, comedic take on the beloved characters.
While not a perfect parody, the show offers a fun, nostalgic night out for Friends fans, with enough iconic moments and musical nods to get even the harshest critic smiling.
★★★
Book tickets here.
Ross (Enzo Benvenuti), Joey (Ronnie Burden), Rachel (Eva Hope), Chandler (Daniel Parkinson), Monica (Alicia Belgarde) and Phoebe (Amelia Atherton)
Gifted press tickets
Photo credit: Pamela Raith
