The Kings Head Theatre in Islington is one of those fringe theatres where the audience loves its intimate atmosphere, quirky low budget productions and traditional pleas to buy a mug or tote bag before the show to keep it going. Soon it hopes to move to its own purpose-built venue, so it is great to see a range of shows available from Kings Head TV available on stream via its website to keep connecting with its audience until a full reopening.
I wish my life Were a Musical was a hit at the Edinburgh Festival in 2019 and it now restaged on a traverse stage across the Kings Head Theatre between two rows of empty seats. It is a typical fringe show a sort of cross between Showstoppers and a musical comedy revue. Written and MD’d by Alexander S Bermange it is a witty parody of both the songs and lyrics of musical Theatre and the life of an actor aspiring to become a star. Indeed, at times the musical phrases seemed so like an original composer’s tunes you wondered whether royalties were payable.
In the early songs, it becomes a game of Musical bingo as you listen carefully for snatches of tunes from the musicals over the years and references to titles, lines, or plots of so many shows. It is written with great wit and affection for the genre. The first song “Love the Opening number” sets the tone with its tongue in cheek words set largely to “another opening” from Kiss Me, Kate, with a hint of Fiddler on the Roof. Charlotte O’Rourke follows this with her audition piece showing off her range, demonstrating that she can “hold a note for half a minute” before finally noting that they had “drawn a kiss against my CV”. Luke Bayer bounces on stage next with a face full of expression as he tries to impress an audience of agents with a “high note on the piano”.Lucas Rush, looking to me like the madcap Kenny Everett, gives us in a slow lament an apology as he has spent “three days on my death bed and left it to sing tonight” followed by Charlotte Anne Steen gives us the title song (and my favourite) full of references to other shows including Jesus Christ Superstar, Sound of Music and Chicago backed by the others with lots of jazz hands! All four return for a parody of all those chorus line routines in a “step too far” with familiar choreography from director Chris Whittaker.
The life as a standby, leading actor, Co-Star, leading lady and Diva are the subject of the tunes in the second half but while amusing they lack the real wit of the first half. I did enjoy Charlotte O’Rourke’s “I love to sing” where singing was akin to Les Dawson’s piano playing and I am sure both require greater skill to pull off successfully than playing it straight.
The Finale around a “leave the light on” standard light provides a touching conclusion as they reflect on why they do it, to remind us what we are missing without live musical theatre. “The rush of excitement”, “the escape to dreamland” and the sense that “the magic is making me” will hopefully soon be back as we return to Live Theatre but in the meantime, this show is a witty entertaining diversion.
Review by Nick Wayne
Rating: ★★★★
Seat: Online | Price of Ticket: £10
