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Review: Rob Madge's Regards To Broadway (Garrick Theatre)

Writer's picture: All That DazzlesAll That Dazzles

Review by Daz Gale


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

Rob Madge has become somewhat of a national treasure in theatre over the past few years. From entertaining us with their videos during lockdown leading to the birth of their amazing one person show My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) going from small theatres to two West End runs, their now annual fixture in the Palladium pantomime and the razor sharp and always hilarious videos they post on social media whenever something ridiculous happens in the world (which is about every 2 hours at the moment), they have become a welcome source of joy for so many in recent years, which is why the news the Broadway transfer of My Son’s A Queer was being postponed broke the hearts of many of Rob’s fans. In Rob’s own inimitable way though, they have turned the whole sorry affair into art in the form of their brand new show Regards To Broadway, but could it repeat the success of My Son’s A Queer or would they be a one show wonder?



Rob Madge’s Regards To Broadway is a personal account of what happened when Rob got the news their Broadway run was being postponed and how they returned to the family home as they came to terms with this unexpected turn of events and career setback in what they rather brilliantly refer to as their “Manhattanus Horriblus”. While it is a deeply personal recount of their changing emotions as they coped with the varying stages of grief, it manages to connect on a wider level, bringing new meaning to the age old phrases such as “What’s meant for you won’t pass you by”.

 

Let’s get one thing clear – Rob Madge is undoubtedly one of the funniest people in theatre. They have an unrivalled knack for crafting a joke, delivering an epic punchline and ensuring their storytelling is always captivating with the most satisfying of payoffs. This became apparent in the immediate aftermath of the Broadway postponement announcement with Rob’s ridiculously surreal and self-deprecating videos giving a cheeky wink in a way only they can, all while their heart was very clearly broken. This sets the tone for tone for Regards To Broadway perfectly. The phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” comes to mind, though in Rob’s case, it’s very much a case of “When life gives you lemons, turn it into a big old lemon drizzle cake… and save some for the tequila”. As they sum up the show with the defining line “All you can do is laugh”, Rob’s ability to see the funny side in the situation while still acknowledging the serious impact it had on them immediately endears them to everyone who comes into contact with them. While they may have admitted on stage to hating reviews that use the word “raw” (guilty as charged), it is one way to describe this deeply personal show which feels refreshing over how open Rob is.



The concept of My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) was Rob playing their childhood videos which saw them turn their house into a Disney parade, and comment on the situation. While that led to no shortage of funny and heartfelt moments, Regards To Broadway is a different beast entirely as it gives Rob full reign. Not to suggest Rob was ever restrained by their previous show, which could be considered their magnum opus, but seeing what they have been able to do when crafting a brand new show in a short space of time is a real testament to their talents as a writer and performer. Rob had the audience howling with laughter from the moment they came on stage in their Nicole Scherzinger Norma Desmond Halloween costume. Poking fun at the situation and theatre in general, the laughs didn’t stop coming with plenty of theatre references (some quite niche) which had the stagey audience in fits of laughter. Despite what happened to them this year, they miraculously managed to create a love letter to theatre… while never being afraid to call out some of the less desirable aspects many face in the industry.

 

These references and jokes never misfired, particularly as Rob described their experience watching Sunset Boulevard last year in a lengthy skit with immortal lines referring to the Shein version of Nicole Scherzinger, reducing me to tears of laughter. They weren’t the only tears I’d experience during this performance, however. While Rob is a naturally funny and gifted entertainer, there is always a great deal of sentiment and humanity in their material which carries a deeper message. Where My Son’s A Queer championed an accepting and loving family, Regards To Broadway too had the same emotional impact, again reaffirming what incredible parents the Madge’s are. A beautifully honest and raw (sorry, Rob) section in act two stopped the laughs briefly while Rob let audiences in to the deepest part of them in a connection most performers would love to be able to have with their audiences. The message of getting the word “Queer” above a Broadway theatre for the first time remained triumphant, despite the setback, and left a positive to the legacy of Rob’s other show.



Rob’s My Son’s A Queer collaborator Pippa Cleary returned in a bigger role, joining them on stage to form a fantastic double act as she became Rob’s suffering creative partner, giving them an added dynamic as they sparred on stage. With musical theatre always at the heart of Rob’s shows, the pair brought a few new numbers to this show including the obligatory nods to Sunset Boulevard and a truly ingenious parody of ‘Breathe’ from In The Heights. A Broadway medley featuring numbers including ‘Broadway Baby’ and ‘On Broadway’ as well as a pre-show playlist adding to the theme with songs such as ‘Broadway Here I Come’ ensured Rob’s tongue was very firmly in cheek as they laughed through the pain and created something magic out of tragic… to quote another 2024 theatre casualty.

 

Shows like Rob Madge’s Regards To Broadway should take months or even years to perfect. The fact the debut of this hastily written show felt so cohesive and strong really speaks to the talent Rob has. While My Son’s A Queer will always have a special place in my heart, in some ways I felt this show was even better as it played to all of Rob’s strengths, giving them free reign to breathe and be their natural funny and fabulous self. Rob’s writing never falters in Regards To Broadway and their performance is as perfect as it gets, which might explain why they struggle to find an understudy to play them. Their ability to bounce back from this experience and turn it into art while being unafraid to show their vulnerability, never forgetting the humour in it all is the best example to date of what an exciting and unique talent Rob Madge truly is.



While they may not be on Broadway at the moment as they should be, Broadway’s loss is the West End’s gain in a performer who I have no doubt will continue to go from strength to strength. In terms of this particular show, Rob has created a wonderful show which deserves a future life, be it the West End, Broadway or Tooting Broadway. Regardless of what happens with this show or My Son’s A Queer, I have no doubt that Rob will continue in their artistry to be a National Treasure here and it’s only a matter of time before they become an International Treasure too.

 

Rob Madge’s Regards To Broadway played at the Garrick Theatre on 26th May. Keep an eye on https://www.instagram.com/robmadge02 to see if there is any future outings for this show


Rehearsal photos by Danny Kaan

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