Fangirls - Lyric Hammersmith

Loved this tbh, lots of fun and catchy songs.

If you are thinking of leaving at the interval, unless you are in anguish and utterly loathing this, I would strongly strongly suggest not leaving. You ain't seen nothing yet and it is GOING PLACES and those places, to borrow Jon's phrase, are batsh*t. The last 10 minutes are a mind-boggling joy.

I had such a blast at this. Part of it is watching a car crash and part of it is just the sheer... wow/chutzpah factor. The main thing for me is that the show can't tell the difference between getting a laugh and being laughed *at* and if you can go along with this then oh man, it is so enjoyable.

Mary Malone as Jules is an absolute star and along with Denise Kurup (as Edna's mom) give the impression that they are in on the joke and are so prepared to just go with it. Everyone else feels like they are taking it so seriously and sometimes can be really good, notably, Jasmine Elcock as Edna and Terique Jarrett as Salty, but it feels like a level of seriousness that doesn't entirely fit with the show - a couple of more knowing winks would really help.

It is so terrible but I'm so glad I went. A couple of times it is properly funny and at least two of the off-colour lines are WAY off colour (this is not a kids musical). More than once I just could not help laughing. My partner left and the guy who was next to her.. well I was really surprised he came back and more than once I could see him looking at me judging me for laughing. I have no idea why he came back at the interval. Quite a few left per herself, she waited at the bar and watched numbers leaving! Also, huge queues of teens waiting to get pics with the cardboard cutout of Harry and things like that.

Queues for the merch desk both before and after which had glossy oversize programmes and other bits.



Finally could someone please explain the cameo to me?

Maybe I was tired and having a bad day, or maybe it was the sound quality, but there are review comments here with things that I just don’t remember. I don’t think I fell asleep.

I guess I’ll have to try again on a day when I’m feeling alert.

I’m just eagerly awaiting Mr Barnaby’s review!

Is the Lyric Hammersmith as much of a sauna at the moment as it usually is at this time of year? Tempted to watch this for a laugh but not if it's as unbearably hot in there as it can be.

Five stars from WhatsOnStage! "An extraordinary, heartfelt show".

Can we get a poll BurlyBeaR

For the Lyric Hammersmith, it's a big success to get new people who may have never stepped foot in their venue.

I wonder if the ones who weren't keen aren't someone who ever experienced manufactured pop or were fans? The humour of the show is something which I loved but understand it's not for everyone.

I enjoyed this a lot! Very funny and the songs were good

In terms of future life, I think it's best bet for the west end is to get a former boy band member to play 'Harry'. That way, they can get some publicity and attention

The actor playing Harry is good at the moment, but he hasn't got LOADS of stage time, so I think can be swapped out for the west end.

I think for Harry, the actor has to be youngish, it wouldn't work with someone in their 30s or 40s. 

Caroline, Edna's Mum is easier to stunt cast although it's not a big role.

Do you remember their name?? There’s a Smash Hits FB page that posts up archive issues, so there might be some evidence of their existence there.

(And I am the right age to be familiar with an embarrassing number of boybands from the 90s.)

I'm not meaning to be a tease here, but the name was close to "A1", who were much more successful. I was thinking "The One" but that search brings up various other groups. I'd have met him in 1999, but the group had disbanded by then. I wish I'd paid more attention, but this was the era of Pop Idol, reality TV and the like.