There’s nothing better than seeing an Edinburgh Fringe show transfer to London, opening it up to a wider audience and a (usually) bigger venue. The latest Fringe hit to open in the capital is Flo & Joan’s hilarious One Man Musical at the Underbelly Boulevard.
Rosie and Nicola Dempsey, the pair behind the Flo & Joan brand, preface the show with a warning that this is a legal minefield, for the ‘one man’ that the show is about, happens to be a rather well-known Lord of the realm.
On the advice of lawyers, the show isn’t called Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Musical, so instead it falls to the opening number to explain that this is the story of ALW. Realising he’s not had a hit since Phantom, Andrew decides his next big musical will be “all about me.” If only he could work out why Rosie and Nicola are playing the keyboard and drums on stage – he’s more used to a full orchestra located in the pit.
That first number doesn’t sound all that great to be honest, a sort of shouty discombobulation of words, and it sets the audience on a nervous first foot. Thankfully the music vastly improves and George Fouracres settles into the more sedate numbers – I suppose it really is like an ALW musical, you have to admit, even Cinderella had some decent tunes.
It’s not all about knocking his Lordship, but there’s no hesitation in calling out some of his perceived failings, both on and off stage. His lack of support for new musicals, voting record in the Lords, and his role in Saturday night talent contests all come under the spotlight.
It’s excellent satire and the laughs come thick and fast. Fouracres portrayal of ALW is a wild, cravat wearing caricature that the audience can most definitely identify with. Fouracres particularly shines in a short improvised section, in which he displays impressive off the cuff knowledge.
Plenty of in-jokes will appeal to the theatre crowd, but anyone who’s heard of Lord Webber – and most people have – will enjoy the story as much as the funny bits. Much of One Man Musical is an abridged version of the autobiography ‘Unmasked’, but Flo & Joan have unsurprisingly taken a few liberties with history.
It’s a fringe show that does what fringe shows do best; Tim Rice is portrayed by a bag of basmati (due to budget constraints) and costume changes are kept to a minimum – though still manage to add to the comedy element. Everything looks rough around the edges, but it’s deliberately designed that way, because here, ALW is on a budget so as to dispel the ‘myth’ that his shows are all spectacle and no substance.
One Man Musical has bags of substance even if it does have very little in the way of spectacle, and in reality that’s what makes it so appealing. George Fouracres’ brilliantly funny way of portraying the character and the clever script combine to an enjoyable musical that makes for a fun night of theatre.
One Man Musical is at Underbelly Boulevard until 2nd March 2025
