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Pictures: Pamela Raith Friends! The Musical Parody Wolverhampton Grand *** As someone who’s been obsessed with Friends since the beginning, I might just be too big a fan for my own good. I hosted an end-of-show party at my house when Season 10 finished, I’ve watched every episode in order twice on DVD, and I still find myself catching reruns on E4 or Comedy Central whenever they pop up. So, that being said I was excited to see what Friends! The Musical Parody was all about! The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre was certainly buzzing with anticipation last night, and for those of us who grew up in the nineties with these characters, there was certainly a mix of excitement about whether it would live up to expectations. All the iconic moments were there, Central Perk, the orange sofa, “We were on a break!”, and of course, “PIVOT!” The show never missed a chance to pack in a reference, and the “Pivot” song was genuinely one of the highlights, clever, high-energy, and perfectly staged. The overall concept of framing the musical as if it were being filmed in a TV studio, complete with a “warm-up act,” didn’t quite land for me. On the night I attended, the show started late due to technical difficulties, so when the warm-up performer appeared, we did wonder if he was stalling for time. I’m sure this is intended to be part of the show, but given the delay, it unfortunately felt awkward rather than funny. The whole “behind-the-scenes of a TV taping” idea didn’t really work in context, and for me it took away from the flow and heart of what Friends is all about. The storyline itself jumped around in a strange order and so at times it was difficult to follow the familiar progression of the series. While it billed itself as a parody, it often felt more like a loving tribute, enthusiastic and full of affection for the original, but lacking the sharp wit and satire a true parody needs. That said, there were still plenty of laughs. The funniest line of the night came when Chandler quipped, “If this were ten years later, we’d all be the cast of The Big Bang Theory.” It was clever, unexpected, and landed perfectly with the audience. Performance wise, the cast gave it their all. Eva Hope was excellent as Rachel Green, perfectly capturing Jennifer Aniston’s blend of charm, style, and sass. Alicia Belgarde brought great energy as Monica, while Enzo Benvenuti was an endearingly neurotic Ross. Ronnie Burden, as Joey, had great charisma and physical comedy, even if a few jokes didn’t land quite as strongly as others. Amelia Atherton as Phoebe Buffay, perhaps had the most difficult task of pulling off Phoebe’s trademark weirdness and whilst she certainly brought charm to the performance, it didn’t quite hit all the kooky notes expected from the character.
Edward Leigh as Gunther and Amelia Atherton as Phoebe Edward Leigh, who played multiple roles, including Gunther, Tom Selleck, and Pablo, was one of the evening’s standouts. His Gunther solo was pure comic gold, melodramatic, funny, and heartfelt! His Pablo moments added an unexpected twist. Daniel Parkinson, as Chandler Bing, offered a very funny, distinctive take on the character, with sharp timing and a memorable (if a slightly Kermit-like) voice. His hysterical appearance as Janice, in drag, complete with the famous laugh was certainly one of the most crowd-pleasing highlights. And then came one of the strangest, yet most talked about moments of the night, a puppet duck and chick performing a full musical number. It was bizarre, chaotic, and oddly captivating, I’m still not sure whether it was good or bad, but it definitely got a reaction! The costumes were spot on, exactly what fans would expect each character to wear and the attention to detail in the set and props helped ground the production firmly in that familiar Friends world. As a super fan, I did miss a few key details. Joey and Chandler’s obsession with Die Hard wasn’t referenced, a shame, given that Bruce Willis later appeared in the series, which would’ve been the perfect chance for a clever “in joke”. The finale, though, delivered a wonderful moment of nostalgia. The fountain coming to life, complete with the cast and their umbrellas, perfectly captured the warmth and heart of Friends without directly copying it. It was funny, touching, and a lovely note to end on, even if it felt like we had to wait until the very end to truly feel that spark. Overall, Friends! The Musical Parody is a silly, fun, and affectionate homage that celebrates the original show. The cast’s energy is infectious and there was plenty of humour, but for me, the structure and concept never quite hit the mark as if it was still a work in progress. I left smiling, yes but also wishing it had captured more of the cleverness and emotional connection that made Friends such a phenomenon in the first place. It may not break new ground theatrically, but for a night of light-hearted entertainment and shared laughter, it’s well worth a visit. Whether you're a superfan or a casual viewer, this parody musical will leave you humming, laughing, and perhaps even shouting, "How you doin'?" on your way home. Friends! The Musical Parody continues at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until 18-10-25. Dexter Whitehead 13-10-25 |
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