REVIEW: Sleepless: A Musical Romance at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

Based on the original screenplay ‘Sleepless in Seattle, a film I have not seen (don’t come for me), this musical adaptation just doesn’t work. We have no need for it in our modern-day society. This may be an ok story to switch on in an evening whilst cooking dinner but as a theatrical experience in 2020, it just doesn’t do anything for us. The romance of the story is lost completely in the production and it doesn’t allow us to escape from our reality enough to forgive that. 

Michael Burdette (Book Writer), Robert Scott (Composer) and Brendan Cull (Lyrics) are the creative team behind the piece, unfortunately, this particular show just doesn’t click into place. The comedy and romance is missed and the music just doesn’t do what we need it to do.  

This show doesn’t have a style, it’s not sure if it’s in the modern era of music with a pop theme, if it’s a more classical musical theatre sound or a Sondheim feel in the score. It's confusing and unfortunately none of it is memorable. Most shows have at least one or two numbers that are staples and you remember walking out of the theatre but this one doesn’t have that, the songs just all mix together into one.  

REVIEW: Waiter, There’s a Murder in my Soup at Studio 5ive, Troubadour Wembley Park

A fine dining experience mixed with an immersive murder mystery, Waiter, There’s a Murder in my Soup is a musical farce set within the confines of Studio 5ive restaurant at the Troubadour Wembley Park. Once seated and our glasses filled, the performers begin to inhabit the space, gently interacting with each other and setting the stage for the concert of the Marchioness du Jour. The venue is busting with dignitaries, thespians and connoisseurs of the opera scene (that’s the part we’re playing) and we meet the Marchioness’ footman, the German trying desperately to pass as a Brit in post-war 1946. A scream. A shock. A cry. The Marchioness has been murdered and all six suspects are together in the room. There’s only one way to solve this, and in she bounds on her bicycle ready to crack the case; Detective Susan Gusset. 

After a few jaunty comedy tunes and an interview of each suspect the first delicious course is served. Between being fed each delicious course, we are fed more information about the murder, the suspects and their motives. Before each scene we are drawn back into the farce with a few 1940s classic songs before a peppy number brings the suspects back on to be interrogated by Gusset.