Arthur Hull returns with an updated version of his blockbusting musical cabaret celebrating Theatreland’s casualties. This love letter to Broadway and the West End features a motley assortment of the misunderstood, critically panned and financially catastrophic musical misfires, including forgotten gems and pleas for redemption!
Review by Richard Lambert
FLOP! The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals at the Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon Teviot is a superb hour of musical theatre, comedy and some seriously impressive musical talent.
Arthur Hull, presented by Seabright Live, takes us through some of musical theatre’s biggest disasters, telling the stories behind the shows and then performing the songs that came out of them. There’s clearly been a lot of research involved and Hull knows his stuff, but thankfully it never feels like a history lesson. It’s funny, entertaining and at times surprisingly emotive.
This young man is incredibly talented, with vocal skills that are second to none. He moves effortlessly between characters and songs, using a collection of hand props and some brilliantly deployed pull-out wigs to help with the characterisation. The blocking is dynamic and the whole thing moves at a fast pace, with good transitions between the stories and numbers. Before you know it, the show is over.
The musical arrangements are also a big part of the fun. Hull combines live keyboard with electronic instruments, rhythms, loops, live sounds and backing tracks to create a much bigger sound than you might expect from one performer. How he handles all of this with split-second timing is outstanding. The musicality is just brilliant and the choreography works really well alongside it.
His show operator also needs a special mention cos this is a tag-team between what’s happening on stage and when it’s driven by the operator.
The lighting is really good, enhancing the performance without getting in the way, while the simple set, centred around an illuminated theatre marquee sign saying “Flop”, with a womky “p” gives the show exactly what it needs.
There’s plenty of comedy, but there’s also a genuine affection for the musicals being discussed. Hull clearly loves this stuff, even when he’s telling us exactly why some of these shows were spectacular failures.
FLOP! is funny, clever, well researched and hugely entertaining. Most of all, it’s just a joy to watch someone who is this good having so much fun on stage. A show about the worst musicals shouldn’t be this good — but this one definitely is.
Cast: Arthur Hull
Creatives: Arthur Hull – Creator/Performer
James Seabright – Producer
You can catch this wonderful show in London when it transfers:
Wilton’s Music Hall
1 Graces Alley, London E1 8JB
Thursday 24 – Saturday 26 September
Tickets: Click here