Mischief Theatre has become a household name among theatre fans in the last decade, with international smash hits including The Play That Goes Wrong and Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, and spin-off shows such as The Goes Wrong Show (BBC), Mischief Movie Night, and various Edinburgh Fringe projects. Now, the company is expanding their range even more with their brand new comedy musical, Thespians.
Starting with a run in Colchester before embarking on a 10-week tour of the UK, is this new venture any good, or should Mischief stick to what they’ve proven to be successful at?
Set in drought-ravaged Ancient Greece, brother and sister duo Thespis and Poly live on a tiny island of Ikaria. Thespis is desperate to see more of the world with a particular fixation on Athens, and his sister, booksmart and ambitious, is ready to seek new adventures too. They band together the island’s residents to compete in a deadly Eurovision-like prayer competition, and Thespis enlightens everyone with something that will change the world forever: the power of acting.
It’s undeniable that from the moment the cast step on stage (beginning with the tireless Allie Dart and Matt Cavendish as a Greek chorus of two), we’re hit with Mischief’s unique blend of charm, quick wit, fourth wall breaking, and constant wordplay. When the rest of the cast take to the stage for the opening number, we know we’re already in for a treat.
The script by Mischief co-founder Jonathan Sayer and music by Mischief Movie Night musical director Ed Zanders blend together wonderfully with a set of great songs that complement the story well. When combined with the actors’ comedic skill, the show had the audience laughing non-stop for its entire duration. While it does still have a few moments of Mischief’s iconic slapstick, the tone takes a slightly different shift towards something that has more heart and soul as the characters realise what it means to be human, to empathise with one another, and to walk a few steps in each other’s sandals.
It’s often the case that shows can sometimes fall a bit flat in the second half, but this show keeps a steady pace after the interval, maybe even delivering a better second act than the first (albeit slightly more chaotic, but in the best way). Many may agree that the highlight of the show is the character of Adonis, played incredibly by Marc Pickering, who is definitely one of the biggest comedy relief characters in the pack. His expert comedy timing and delivery of every single line of dialogue had the audience in stitches, and you can’t help but love him when he has his time to redeem himself in act two following a mistake which could potentially lead to their friend’s untimely demise at the hands of the fabulous but terrifying Tyrant (Rhys Taylor).
There are moments where the script feels a little long and could be tightened in places, but this is overshadowed by the fantastic performances from the whole cast. What could be a risky move from a long history of comedy plays to trying their hand at musical theatre feels more like a bold step towards something great, and could be a successful new venture for future Mischief projects if audiences continue to love Thespians as much as they did last night in Bath.
Currently at Bath’s Theatre Royal until 30th May before moving onto Swindon, Guildford, Cheltenham, Cardiff and Manchester. Find all dates and venues on the Mischief Theatre website.
★ ★ ★ ★
