Could it BE any more exciting at the Grand Opera House York – as Friends! The Musical Parody transports audiences to Central Perk and beyond this week.
From the producers of Hairspray and the director of The Full Monty (Michael Gyngell), this is as much a musical parody as it is a love letter to the beloved 90s sitcom.
Friends! The Musical Parody is at the Grand Opera House York from Tuesday 30 September to Saturday 4 October.
Packed with iconic moments from all 10 seasons, this is a nostalgic, heartwarming, and hilarious couple of hours – complete with multiple exclamations of ‘Pivot!’ and ‘We were on a break!’
It’s lights, camera, action, as soon as our warm-up guy (Edward Leigh) steps onto stage, who gets the audience involved with vocal warm ups and clever camera technology.
The ensemble cast are truly the stars of the show. The gang are all here, with Amelia Atherton as Phoebe, Alicia Belgarde as Monica, Enzo Benvenuti as Ross, Ronnie Burden as Joey, Eva Hope as Rachel, and Daniel Parkinson as Chandler. Each actor portrays the mannerisms and vocal inflections of the characters flawlessly, and with powerhouse vocals that blow the roof off the theatre.
It’s impossible to single out a member of this incredible cast, however it is like Jennifer Aniston has uncannily stepped onto the York stage.
The show moves along at break-neck speed, each musical number punchy and pacy – and most importantly for a parody, very funny.
With original music by Assaf Gleizner, and Bob & Tobly McSmith, there wasn’t a weak song in the lot. Some of the highlights included ‘How You Doin”, ‘OMG It’s Janice’ (with a delightful dual turn from Daniel Parkinson), ‘Chick and Duck’, and ‘We Were On A Break’, an act two opener that took us on a whistle-stop tour of some of the show’s most iconic moments.
Perhaps my favourite song of all though was Gunther’s moment in the spotlight in ‘Part of Your Gang’, written by Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary, and Edward Leigh steals every scene he’s in – in a multitude of roles.
Myles Brown’s slick and stylish choreography elevated each number, particularly in the zany ‘Classic Sitcom Situation’.
However among all the laughs, which there were many, there are also genuinely sweet moments too. The beautiful duet between Monica and Chandler, ‘Could I Be Any More In Love With You’, was perfectly placed and a welcome respite from the fast-moving pace of the rest of the show.
The creative team have to be applauded too. There’s incredible work by wigs, hair and make-up designer Craig Forrest-Thomas – these are the best wigs I’ve ever seen on stage! The various costumes (Jennie Quirk and Nicole Rosalind) were instantly recognisable too, and captured the 90s flair magnificently.
If you’re a Friends fanatic, this is an absolute must-see. The enthusiasm beaming from the audience of die-hard fans was infectious, and it’s always a special experience when theatre brings a group of people together this way. Even if you’ve never seen an episode of the sitcom, you’re guaranteed to have a great night if you allow yourself to be swept up in the madness of it all.
You’ll walk out the theatre humming along to ‘I’ll Be there For You’ – and it rings true. They always will be, in our hearts and minds forever.
Friends! The Musical Parody is at the Grand Opera House until Saturday 4 October. Tickets start from £15 and are available online here.
