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Blue Box Entertainment Eurobeat: The Musical
by Craig Christie and Andrew Patterson Novello Theatre 19 September – November 15, 2008
A review by Alan Taylor for EXTRA! EXTRA!
Eurobeat is a comical look at next year’s Eurovision to be hosted in Sarajevo. With ten countries being represented and a live text vote, audience members are encouraged to make as much noise as possible, and to support their adopted country for the evening. Hosted by Sergei (Les Dennis) and Boyka (Mel Giedroyc), we are taken on a short ride through Europe’s best and quirkiest parodied performances. Walking in to the theatre, there was more noise than I had heard in any theatre in a lifetime. Audience members were being encouraged to buy clackers, flags and other assorted memorabilia in the promise that they “wouldn’t have as much fun” if they didn’t. I decided to opt out of their blatant attempt to sell their merchandising. After a hostile start, I gently warmed to the vibe of the night. Mel Giedroyc as the quirky yet funny Boyka manages to carry through the performance, producing seamless segues between the acts in a bid to outdo her co-host. The rest of the performing company are designed to be slightly generic and faceless, taking the roles of many of the different countries. The songs are bitty, and provide a few highlights. Surprisingly, the best entries are the most inventive ones, like Iceland’s Bjork-esque “Love Ballad #3a” and their parody take on Kraftwerk and Phillip Glass with Germany’s “Be-Bop for Veronda”. The rest seemed to lack the punch that they needed- the lyrics weren’t quite funny enough, they weren’t quite kitsch enough and they weren’t remarkable enough to even be thought of as a funny Eurovision entry. My advice is to go with your friends that you watch Eurovision with every year- you know the ones I mean. You’ll enjoy it much, much more. Preferably a big group, because it is way too easy to feel isolated when someone is clacking a clacker in your ear frantically and screaming for Polish men dressed in mankinis. Take it with a pinch of salt and you’ll have a much better time than thinking you’re going to see something with perfect song writing and heart warming melodies. Eurobeat is lilted with kitsch and politically incorrect stereotypes, but relies heavily on your ability to forget yourself (and your standards) in favour of some good old fashioned fun. In other words, resistance is futile- you’ll end up cheering along in the end!
Eurobeat: The Musical Performances Mon-thurs 8pm, Tickets £11.50- £44.50 or call 0844 482 5170
Copyright © EXTRA! EXTRA All rights reserved
Copyright © EXTRA! EXTRA All rights reserved
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