• Review For Us
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Last Minute
    • Cinema
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
    • Attractions
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Last Minute
    • Cinema
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
    • Attractions
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews

Review: Musik at Leicester Square Theatre

Greg Stewart by Greg Stewart
February 11, 2020
Reading Time: 3min read
Musik Review Leicester Square Theatre

Musik Review Leicester Square Theatre

Billie Trix has become almost as cult a figure in the real world as she was intended to be in the fictional world created for her by Jonathan Harvey and The Pet Shop Boys.  First seen in their original collaboration, Closer to Heaven, Trix was a minor character, a kind of narrator to the main story line, but now she has her own show, playing at the Leicester Square Theatre, Musik had its much-acclaimed debut at the Edinburgh Fringe last year.

Frances Barber reprises her role as Billie Trix, not only from the Edinburgh run but also from the original production of Closer to Heaven at the Arts Theatre.  While that production was to receive mixed reviews, Barber’s performance was often cited as one of the most memorable parts of the production.

In Musik, Billie Trix namedrops her way through a potted history of her life.  She’s a complete fantasist, and tells us how she inspired the work of Andy Warhol, almost became the First Lady, and jammed with the Beatles.  At one point she muses “where did it all go wrong?” Completely oblivious to her obvious lack of talent, declaring “I am art!”

She describes herself as a little mongrel from hell, and we start to realise that her pure narcissism could be a defence mechanism to cope with the fact that she does realise she’s a nobody.  The bitterness and rage that spews out in her obscenity filled rants certainly indicate this is a life that is unfulfilled, wasted in drug and alcohol induced stupors.

Her story is accompanied by a handful of songs from the Pet Shop Boys, four of them were written especially for Musik, while one is recycled from Closer to Heaven.  They are everything you would expect from the phenomenally successful duo, and one is even devoted to the cans of soup that made Warhol famous.  The best of the bunch, and the most memorable, is an upbeat disco anthem, ‘Ich bin Musik’, that comes dangerously close to getting the audience out of their seats to dance.

You mightalso like

Ben Hart

Ben Hart Announces London Show As Part of UK Tour

Andrew Lancel in Swan Song credit David Munn

Jonathan Harvey’s Swan Song Starring Andrew Lancel Announces Further Tour in February

Jonathan Harvey’s script is filled with a wonderful dry acerbic wit, with some shockingly blunt one liners, which often result in a gasp from the audience, before laughter so loud it prevents Barber continuing until it subsides.  Musik is a collection of stories, each more outrageous than the last, and they keep the audience absolutely gripped.

While Billie Trix may not be the star she believes herself to be, the star of this show is undoubtedly Francis Barber.  The delivery is spot on in every regard, and she clearly inhabits the soul of this comically tragic character.

Musik finds itself in the odd position that the music is the one part of the show not entirely essential to make it work.  They are great songs from The Pet Shop Boys, but they aren’t what anyone who’s seen it will be talking about, that honour will go to Harvey’s razor-sharp writing and Barber’s outstanding portrayal of this wannabe icon.

 

1 of 3
- +
Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner
Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner
Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner
ADVERTISEMENT

1. Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner

Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner

2. Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner

Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner

3. Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner

Francis Barber Photo Marc Brenner

Summary
Reviewer
Greg Stewart
Review Date
2020-02-11
Reviewed Item
Musik at Leicester Square Theatre
Author Rating
41star1star1star1stargray
Event
Musik at Leicester Square Theatre
Starting on
February 11, 2020
Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

Ben Hart
News

Ben Hart Announces London Show As Part of UK Tour

Andrew Lancel in Swan Song credit David Munn
News

Jonathan Harvey’s Swan Song Starring Andrew Lancel Announces Further Tour in February

Andrew Lancel in Swan Song credit David Munn
News

Jonathan Harvey’s Swan Song to Tour UK Starring Andrew Lancel

Andrew Lancel c. Matt Ford
News

Andrew Lancel to Star in Jonathan Harvey’s Swan Song at Liverpool Theatre Festival

Liverpool Theatre Festival
News

Bill Elms Announces Liverpool Theatre Festival

Bush Theatre Masterclasses
News

Bush Theatre Begins A Series Of On-Stage Masterclasses

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Follow Us

  • Following the success of its recent five-star production of Sunset Boulevard – at Home, Curve has announced plans to also stream The Color Purple online @Curve_leicester #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #owenchaponda #akomitchell #anelisalamola #carlymercedesdyer #daniellefiamanya #daniellekassaraté #geoffaymer #joservi #jochebelohenemaccarthy #karenmavundukure #kmdrewboateng #landioshinowo #perolacongo #rosemaryannabellankrumah #simonanthonyrhoden #tshanwilliams #thecolorpurpleathome
  • Sir Derek Jacobi has joined the cast of the new filmed theatre production of Romeo & Juliet starring Sam Tutty and Emily Redpath, as full casting is announced and tickets go on sale @RomeoJuliet_2021 #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #brandonbassir #danielbowerbank #emilyredpath #helenanker #iskandareton #jessicamurrain #jonnylabey #lucytregear #marcozall #ollietennant #romeojuliet #samtutty #sirderekjacobi #sylvesterakinrolabu #tatsnyazika #timmydriscoll #vintamorgan
  • Felicity Kendal will make her West End musical debut as Evangeline Harcourt, alongside leading West End actor Gary Wilmot as Elisha Whitney, in this year
  • Following the success of their online Summer Spread of courses, Wise Children announce The School for Wise Children’s Workrooms @WiseChildrenCompany #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #emmarice #theschoolforwisechildrensworkrooms #wisechildren
  • Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed that they will be unable to go ahead with their plans to present 101 Dalmatians as part of their 2021 season #Theatre #TheatreWeekly #LondonTheatre #101dalmatians #regentsparkopenairtheatre
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, Kemp House, 152 - 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

STEM SIsters

STEM Sisters, A New Online Musical for Primary School Children Focuses om Historical Female Scientists

Alexia McIntosh

Star of SIX, Alexia McIntosh Launches Birmingham Hippodrome’s Digital Masterclasses

© 2020 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Contact Us

© 2020 Theatre Weekly

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Cookie Policy.