Bananaman

I was also at today’s matinee.

This was well acted and had plenty of heart, but also it was pretty much terrible also.

This was a solid 1 Star from me, so therefore glad I only paid £12 on PAYG.

I'm in my 30s, used to watch the cartoon and read the Beano religiously (though the two didn't merge until I technically outgrew 'em), recognised all but maybe two of the kids TV themes from the '80s that were playing before and during the show, and I honestly loved it. Don't go in expecting art, go in committed to two and a half hours of silliness, a plot with the depth and sense of a comic strip, a cast of terrific voices, and just let it happen. Maybe I was helped by this miserable thread (high expectations are often disappointed, but low expectations are so often exceeded), maybe I was conveniently *exactly* the target audience, but I had a great time and was very happy with my decision to attend.

I was surprised that the show made little attempt to encourage audience interaction.

The afternoon I attended, half the audience were kids 5 to 9 years, and I would have expected much more enthusiasm from them. Instead many were restless and obviously not totally engaged.

A shame because the cast is talented and worked hard.

It will be a shame if it bombs because I like the idea of a steady supply of daft musicals of the Xanadu and Toxic Avenger ilk. This has been in the pipeline for an awful long time too. Was it on the old board that we first saw the “coming soon” artwork?

Of course it’s a fine line between bad and intentionally bad.

Waiting for this to start soon. Get there early - they play nothing but 1980s kids show theme tunes as people are taking their seats.

I don't suppose Mark likes it...

Well the 4-7 year olds liked it. Think panto without ugly men dressed as ugly women and someone who was something once in the eighties - plus  good singers.

The first act goes into a timeloop and takes about 3 songs too many to stagger to the interval. The book writer was overpaid.

But Act two is much better. More action, bigger bananas, better jokes, of true panto awfulness,  for the adults.

Its also got some really good performances - particularly by the baddies, and its got Jodie Jacobs singing, which is always a plus.

Impossible to rate, as some will find act one snooze inducing, but  kids of all ages may love it. And its less than a fifth the price of the Palladium rip off panto alternative.

What apeeling behaviour!

shady23, @baemax, taxi is on its way!

Was Theatremonkey there, if so stands to reason!!! 🍌🍌🍌🍌🐒🐒🐒🍌🍌🍌🍌

Okay so, on post show reflection, I think my interval rant was perhaps a little on the harsh side. Act II was a HUGE improvement, in every sense. I even found myself cracking a smile towards the end.

For that reason, I'm gonna round up my two stars to a three.

Saw this tonight, it’s a mess. Really energetic cast and some good performances/singing but it has serious identity issues and doesn’t know if it’s a panto, kids show, theatre in education or a musical. For a story that is connected so heavily to the 80’s (including the pre soundtrack in the auditorium) why have iPhones in the show and mention 2002?

The score, script, jokes and book just aren’t good enough or ready and it shouldn’t have made it to public presentation at its current state. As others have said previously the source material just isn’t up to the standard we expect at Southwark and it just came across like a Btec project. (I did a Btec so I can say that!).

Too many group numbers, the casting was a mixed bag and it was also far too long. By far the weakest musical I have seen at Southwark for years sadly which is a shame as in a “Toxic Avenger kinda way” there is a good show there somewhere. 5/10.