Friends! the Musical Parody tour review

I go to the theatre a lot, and generally Milton Keynes theatre is a good experience. But going to see Friends The Musical Parody on tour was definitely not the best logistical experience. Thankfully the show itself was worth the hassle.

It started off with horrendous traffic en route to Milton Keynes with some horrific driving from cars in front of me as well.

Then at the theatre, there was so much hanging around as the doors didn’t open to let you go to the seats until 7.15. Usually they open at 7. So everyone was rushing in. I love sitting in the side/raised stalls area there as there’s much less faff of people being late and having to be disturbed by them coming past. Oh and the view is great.

When it’s quieter you can get a photo opportunity on a Central Perk sofa in the theatre foyer. Not sure that will be possible in smaller venues like Oxford I usually go to, but look out for that if you have tickets elsewhere.

The WiFi wasn’t working either, and where I was sitting I had no phone signal, so I couldn’t get anything done in the interval I wanted or while waiting for the start of the show. Not an issue for most people who are with friends. Just a bit of an inconvenience compared with normal.

*Ad- Contains affiliate links

Friends the Musical Parody show

But onto the show. I booked tickets without really knowing much about it. I loved the tv show Friends, so I was hoping there’d be a nod to it, and that the comedy part was funny.

On arrival the set was like being backstage and watching the TV show behind the rooms on set. A bit more interesting than sone show sets on arrival. 

Before the show you also get a hint of the 90s music to come. Perfect for reminiscing my older school and uni years.

The show starts with the warm up guy getting the audience participation going with cameras panning the,audience. The people in the front rows played ball, I’m not sure I would.  The show is set up as though they’re recording the tv show, with cameras rolling from on stage crew members at certain points.

The show has a small cast, including ‘crew’ members on stage. This allows for the changing of the set as needed which happens a lot and is cleverly done. Every person on stage plays their part, with several playing a couple of roles.

The plot if you can call it that, basically takes the mickey out of the tv show. With all those questions like how did the afford to live where they did, and how Central Perk is the only coffee shop. It whips through the 10 years of story lines with some of the most famous there, some made into the music.

To make the most of it you need to have seen the tv show really. I was surprised to see a couple of you get children in the audience. There’s probably more sex mentions than in the tv show.

The 6 main characters were believable. Chandler and Ross in particular with their mannerisms were so alike the characters on tv we knew and loved. Rachel and Monica were really well suited to their characters. 

Phoebe was good, but more her own version, less recognisable at Phobe. Joey was very funny, and instantly recognisable too.

Gunther was there, as well as Richard Tom Selleck. When he first appeared on stage, even he had to take a moment to stop laughing. Sooo funny. 

Oh, and not forgetting Oh My Gawd Janice! She was brilliant, almost pantomime dame-esque, and you’re kept guessing to work out who the actor is as she’s not on the cast lists.

The songs aren’t musical masterpieces but they suit the informal, pulled together look and feel of the show. I was expecting 90s songs to fit the show, but they’re originals bringing in the stories from the tv show. A few were reworkings of existing songs from other musicals like the Central Perk Tango. So amusing, and generally very well sung by the cast. In the first act we did hear a song which was inspired by the Mavericks theme song for the tv show.

The second act started with more audience warm up. A bit of singing (I even warmed up to joining in, and it turned out I knew all the Friends quiz answers too).

With a shorter second act, there’s props galore, including chick and duck, plus all the rest of the events covered in the show, with jokes about the characters’ real life goings on thrown in. Another surreal moment is Marcel the monkey.

Of course Friends! the Musical Parody wouldn’t be Friends without the theme song (with a difference), umbrellas and dance around the water fountain. This really got the audience going.

The show races through the 10 years of the series which any fans of the show will remember. Who cares if now there are so many questions about the lack of reality, questions over some of the stories that are only nowadays seen as a potential issue by those who examine the show.

Friends the musical parody is great for fans of the show, who grew up watching the characters, but also like to laugh at the absurdity of some of the storyline. 

While I haven’t come away singing any of the songs, I had a brilliant time watching the show. It reminded me of all the little bits you remember (and those you forget), and it gives you a cosy nostalgic feeling remembering when and where you were in your life when you watched the tv show. 

The cast for the tour:

• Ross: Enzo Benvenuti
• Monica: Alicia Belgarde
• Chandler: Daniel Parkinson
• Rachel: Eva Hope
• Joey: Ronnie Burden
• Phoebe: Amelia Atherton
• Gunther, Tom Selleck, and Paolo: Edward Leigh 

If you’re a Friends fan, check out the tour through ATG, because you won’t be disappointed.