Friends The Musical Parody at The Theatre Royal, Nottingham

It’s astonishing that Friends, the NBC Sitcom by David Crane and Marta Kaufman which aired for ten seasons between 1994 and 2004, has been off air now for longer than it was on. The show which made big names of its six stars – Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Le Blanc, David Schwimmer and Matthew Perry – has firmly taken its place as a global cultural phenomenon. Fans who grew up watching the show still enjoy shouting “Pivot” as they move furniture and discussing the lives of their favourite on-screen best pals. This is due in no small part to the constant repeats and cult online presence the show still enjoys. This musical parody promises to be a fast paced and affectionate send-up of the beloved show – essential viewing for any true fan. The premise here is that all ten seasons are condensed into just under two hours of content. The show has been fantastically successful over in the USA and this week the nostalgia-fest comes to Nottingham.

As soon as the show opens and the gang bound on to the stage, the show delivers a host of fan favourite familiar moments. Ross is being awkward, Monica is cleaning. Joey asks “How you doin’?” Phoebe is singing bizarre songs about malodorous felines. Chandler is being sarcastic. It’s all here. But it’s immediately clear that this is no mere tribute – this is a full blown comedic homage! The show packs in and celebrates the iconic moments thick and fast. And it is all done with a gleeful glint in the eye that the fans here in Nottingham lap up.

The wonderful ensemble cast are on top form this evening, each actor doing the unenviable job of performing a character who is known inside and out by the fans. Enzo Benvenuti’s Ross is a neurotic delight, complete with fossil obsession and emotional instability. Alicia Belgarde nails Monica’s obsessive energy and Daniel Parkinson’s Chandler has razor sharp timing. My absolute favourite performances this evening come in the from of Ronnie Burden as Joey – a more loveable depiction it would be hard to imagine – and Amelia Atherton’s wildly eccentric and whimsical Phoebe. These performers all do a mightily impressive job of significantly leaning in to the absurd parody with gusto. If you loved the characters on TV, you’ll love the way they are brought to life on stage. Kudos also to Edward Leigh who animates a plethora of additional characters from Gunther to Tom Selleck – all with hilarious flair.

The set is beautifully evocative, the two facets being Central Perk and Monica’s apartment. There’s a joyously cartoonish quality to the design which fits the brief perfectly. Costume designer Jennie Quirk and wig master Craig Forrest-Thomas have crafted looks for each character that mean that they are immediately identifiable.

Direction by Michael Gyngell is pacy and we are never far from the next punchline. The humour is satirical and at times close to the bone, yet all delivered with such glee that it’s hard to resist.

The musical arrangements (Assaf Gleizner) all contribute to the sense of the absurd and are really rather good. Choreography by Myles Brown is high energy and visually delightful.

All told, this is a show that doesn’t take its muse too seriously and it invites us to enter into that same spirit too. If you were a fan of the show, you’ll absolutely appreciate that every creative involved in this production is clearly a kindred soul. If you’ve never seen the TV show I suspect it all might be a bit lost on you. I really enjoy seeing the audience response – people cheer, quote lines, revel in the shared nostalgia. Everyone here is having a great time. If you fancy a night out with old friends, come for an oversized coffee in 1990s Manhattan – you’ll not be disappointed. Could there BE a better way to spend an evening?