FRIENDS - The musical parody - Milton Keynes Theatre

If I say Pivot, I Know, my eyes, my eyes, How you doin’? and Could I be anymore… then there can be only one show I am referring to.  It’s the 90’s sitcom series FRIENDS. Its so iconic with so many funny moments, that its original 10 seasons are known to generations of fans.  Now there is a musical parody of the series, playing at Milton Keynes Theatre this week. 

I am a huge fan of FRIENDS and raised my children on FRIENDS.  Together we quote it to each other all the time. I am not alone.  With it hardly ever off our TV screens and the outcry when Netflix recently took it off their streaming service you know there are so many fans out there.  So how does a funny series become a parody of itself?  It has to be someone who knows FRIENDS inside out and belongs to the huge fan family.  Creative team includes Director Michael Gyngell, Books & Lyrics by Bob and Tobly McSmith and Music by Assaf Gleizner. 

As soon as you arrive you can have your photo taken on the iconic sofa.  You will find it by the queue of people wanting to do this.  The merch is also really cool and I have a tote bag that says ‘Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?’, a keyring with a turkey with glasses and a Pivot pin badge.  There is a real buzz amongst the audience.  A tangible excitement that is rarely seen at other shows.  The fans are out in force for this legendary show that has stood the test of time. 

The show is set up like we are watching a recording of FRIENDS so there is a warm-up guy.  Although he was fun, I would much rather they just launch into the show and characters.  We could have had a good ten minutes extra of friends quotes.  But I am just being greedy because I love the show so much.  I think you need to know the characters to get this show on all levels but if you love it you will know what I am saying when I say they cover the following:

• Leather pants

• Trifle with beef

• Chick and the duck

• Smelly Cat

• Janice

• Moist Maker

• Marcel

There are mentions for Julie, Paul the wine guy, Paulo, Saying Rachel’s name at Ross’ second wedding and we get a fantastic cameo for Tom Selleck. 

Enzo Benvenuti  plays Ross, and really exaggerates the depressive side to make it funny.  We get the ‘My sandwich’ and ‘my wife is a lesbian’ moments, but by far my favourite Ross moment is the leather pants.  The way Enzo pulls his hands out of the trousers is so funny.  Perfect comedy timing.  Rachel played by Eva Hope and Ross have a Will They Or Wont They number which absolutely nails it.  Eva is a fantastic Rachel.  Not only does she look like her, but she is even more likeable than the real Rachel. Loved the wedding dress which looks exactly like the one Rachel wore. 

Alicia Belgrade is Monica and my favourite scene for her was arguing with Rachel, when they are fighting over who will take the last condom.   Daniel Parkinson is Chandler and along with Alicia Belgrade is Monica they reenact my second favourite episode, The proposal.  The song is ‘Could I Be Anymore In Love With You?’ and it really captures the moment. 

Ronnie Burden as Joey is excellent.  I loved loved loved his dance with the Chick and the Duck.  He tries to teach Ross and Chandler how to chat up girls but really How You Doin is a Joey phrase and doesn’t work on the others.  

Amelia Atherton is Phoebe and she is outstanding.  Every mannerism is exaggerated.  She even picks Joey’s aura.  And her voice is perfect with a huge range.  We get her singing several songs but as Smelly Cat is copyrighted, its Smelly Mom.  I loved it when she got someone in the audience to sing it too. 

Edward Leigh is Gunther, Tom Selleck and Paolo.  Poor Gunther.  He doesn’t really get a lot of lines does he?  But he does get a song (Part of their gang). But for me Edward as Tom Selleck was hysterical.  It made the show!

I think they missed a trick not giving Phoebe the orange fur coat or when Joey dances with the Chick and Duck he could do the jazz hands at the end.  But I am being picky.  It has so much of what you love in the show, they even do a fat Monica episode when they were young. (and they note that having Courtney Cox dressed up in a fat suit as she is thin will raise issues in the future).  I loved the first song of the second half called We Were On A Break which covers a multitude of elements that they can’t fit in anywhere else.  Gladys (Phoebe’s artwork), Joey wearing all Chandler’s clothes and Mrs Whiskerson all make appearances.  But my ultimate (fireball?!) moment is the cast doing ‘The routine’ by the fountain in the iconic outfits. I absolutely loved it. 

The side-splitting musical comedy is packed with iconic moments from all 10 seasons of the beloved television series. Could it be any funnier?! I don’t think so. 

FRIENDS! The Musical Parody is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 17 January.