We’ve all seen Friends. Some of us have even seen every episode, twice. But have you ever seen the plotlines of all 86 hours and 53 minutes of the cult classic crammed in to a two-and-a-half hour musical?
If you were at His Majesty’s Theatre last night, then the answer is yes.
When six characters – or at least a version of them – that we all know and love thanks to what was arguably the single biggest sitcom of the 90s burst on to stage clutching twirling, colourful umbrellas, you know it can only be Friends…ical.
Let’s not forget ex-X-factor hunk, Jake Quickenden also thrown in for good measure, but we’ll get back to him…
Die-hard Friends didn’t wait long for familiar catchphrases at HMT
Die-hard fans spanning decades were on the edge of their seats waiting for those oh-so-familiar catchphrases, allowing them to relive those 10 precious, hilarious seasons that brought us all so much joy over the years.
They didn’t have to wait long, as “Ross” opened the dialogue with a classic ‘Shhhhhh’, complete with hand gestures – you know the ones.
Exploding into song from the off, and working those character eccentricities into every energetic dance move, it was clear that this was going to be a high-speed show.
The crowd lapped up Phoebe’s “floopiness”, Joey’s lethario-like ways, and Chandler’s, well, Chandler-ness.
Friendsical is a love letter to the 90s global phenomenon
But mainly it’s a love letter directed at Ross and Rachel, and their constant on-again, off-again relationship.
Ross, played by Nelson Bettencourt, acts as the narrator, or creator rather, of this slightly bonkers mix of fourth-wall breaking, live audience imitating, whirlwind reenactment of 10 years worth of storylines dedicated to the pair’s long and winding road towards a happy ending.
When Rachel, as essayed by Amelia Kinu Muus, crashes into the coffee shop scene wearing a hideously puffy wedding dress, there are nostalgic smiles all round.
Immediately, the cast launch into songs such as (He’s her) Lobster!, Richard’s Moustache and You’re Over Me, When Were You Under Me? – as a way of speeding along the process of storytelling a decade-long history in an extremely short space of time.
Friends is so action-packed it can be exhausting watching it
To say it’s action-packed would be an understatement. I was exhausted just watching it.
Think High School Musical with an extra helping of well-versed, 90s-appropriate innuendo, and just about as many words as you can squash into a chorus while still being able to make them out. The songs were cheesy, peppy, and finger-clicking good.
For a concept centred all around the usually loveable fool that is Ross Geller, it would have been ideal if Nelson’s performance had been a little more… loveable.
More high-pitched and animated than the usual morose and somewhat down-trodden palaeontologist that we’re used to, this version of Ross was a little more high than “Hiiiiiii”.
Could Chandler BE any more spot-on?
With one hand in the pocket of his slacks, and the other wildly gesturing in time with every quintessentially sarcastic one-liner, the brilliantly accurate portrayal of Chandler (Tim Edwards) was just the bada-Bing that this show needed.
Paired with a Monica (Sarah Michelle-Kelly) that could get paid work as an actual stunt double for Courtney Cox, and with a shrillness that goes right through you (in a good way), the duo were by far the stand-out stars of the show, and a joy to watch.
Despite a few questionable accent slips (unless I missed the one where Joey – Sario Solomon – moved to Boston), the rest of the cast delivered the moments that every Friends aficionado in the house was dying to see.
Rachel in the cheerleader outfit? Check. Joey doing lunges while wearing every item from Chandler’s wardrobe? Check.
As for singer and heartthrob Jake Quickenden, well, we know that the creators of Friends loved a celebrity cameo, and that’s as far as his role goes. I will however give him points for excellent comedy timing. And extra points for whipping his kit off at every opportunity.
Night of entertainment at HMT for true fanatics of Friends
Over the top in every way and whizzing through plotlines at a dizzying pace, while being all-singing, all-dancing all the way, it’s a lot to take in, but for true fanatics of the New York six, it’s a guaranteed night of entertainment.
While Friendsical may not have made my day, my week, my month, or even my year, it was certainly an upbeat, hurricane of a musical nostalgia trip.
Friendsical is at HMT until Saturday October 22. You can find tickets and more information here.
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