Review: Thespians (Mercury Theatre)

Review by Izzy Tierney

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have you ever wondered how acting came to be, why we say ‘the show must go on', or what the mighty god Zeus called his cat? Look no further, for Mischief Theatre are travelling back to 534 BC to answer those very questions, in a production bursting with love, pride, and an impressive amount of Greece-themed puns.

With over a decade of successful plays to their name (The Play That Goes Wrong, Groan Ups and Comedy About Spies, to name a few), Thespians is Mischief Theatre's first venture into the world of musicals, so you may be wondering what exactly a Mischief musical looks like. The answer? It's exactly what you'd expect from a Mischief show, and I mean that as the highest of compliments. It's clever, outrageously funny, ridiculously silly, and full of characters you quickly grow to love, only this time there's the wonderful addition of songs! If you're already a fan of Mischief Theatre, you’ll definitely love this, and if you've never seen one of their shows before, I guarantee this will make you fall in love with them.

Written by Jonathan Sayer (book and lyrics) and Ed Zanders (music and lyrics), Thespians tells the story of how (the only) five inhabitants of the island of Ikaria created a new art form: acting. The script is hilarious, with Mischief's ever-present heartfelt motif elevating every joke and funny one-liner. There are many great odes to the world of acting, from warm-up exercises to Notting Hill to Wicked, and a fantastic moment of recognition for the incredibly talented understudies and swings who are often overlooked, yet without whom the industry would collapse. As a company, Mischief continuously champions their ‘thunderstudies’, so including this in the show is another lovely moment of appreciation. The music is perfectly composed to complement each scene, and whether it be a more genuine, emotional score or a fun, catchy number to match the lyrical wit, the songs are tremendously well-crafted and enjoyable.

Keeping the energy high and the dancing camp, Melody Sinclair-Marsh's fabulous choreography is a joy to watch, whilst Robyn Grant’s masterful direction manages to make the chaos on stage flow naturally and effortlessly. Jasmine Swan’s set is a real highlight, with the grey walls of ancient Greece marbled with beautiful pastel colours that create a calm, dreamy feel to each scene, something that cleverly contradicts the often hectic narrative taking place. The detail in the gorgeous artwork used throughout the show is extraordinary, and the costumes are bright and fun and set the tone immediately. Amplifying the set with his lighting design is David Lowe, illuminating the scenery with vivid, rainbow lights as the final step to creating a world screaming with colour. It's easy to see how well the creative team collaborated to bring to life a shared vision for the show, as the result is cohesive, charming, and truly stunning.

Also working well together is the exceptionally talented cast. They bounce off one another with an easy chemistry, fashioning a well-Greeced wheel of a group that instantly engrosses the audience, and makes the bonds of their characters feel real and authentic. Matt Cavendish and Allie Dart are a fabulous double act as Bard and Rhapsodes, who play a multitude of roles as they take the audience on a minor-taur from Ikaria to Athens. They’re weird and wacky and thoroughly entertaining, and a duo I would definitely like to see host more events! Alongside their myriad of incredible facial expressions and limitless enthusiasm is their unapologetic overZeuse of puns, so I too will not Apollo-gise for the puns that may have crept into this review…

James Spence plays the ambitious Thespis, whose dreams of fame and fortune lead him Astraeus he walks down the Rhode of hubris, with such a childlike excitement for life and undeniable charm that despite his flaws, leaves you unable not to root for him. Speaking of flaws, Marc Pickering plays the role of Adonis, the big, strong, muscly, manly, courageous soldier with strong arms and strong thighs, who definitely doesn’t stuff apples into his clothes to make him appear bigger than he is. He’s so comically painful to watch at times, trying and failing again and again to be dis-Crete, but you can’t help loving him in spite of his cringy bravado and impressive ineptitude. Pickering has phenomenal comedic timing, and his skill as an actor really shines in the way he’s able to humanise and get the audience to empathise with Adonis, so that they end up laughing with him rather than at him.

Leading the group is Mia Jerome’s Melampus, the elder on the island who has visions, a human notepad, and speaks often of Hermes-ery at the disappearance of her fiancé soldier. Jerome is an absolute delight to watch, delivering perfectly deadpan punch lines and spectacularly dancing to my new favourite dance: The Old Man Tango. The human notepad aforementioned is the adorable, kind-hearted Atlas, performed with so much warmth by Luke Latchman, as he grapples with his lack of confidence and complicated feelings for Thespis. Latchman is excellent at portraying the complexities of Atlas inside his sweet, agreeable exterior, showing the hopes and desires he buries underneath the feelings of inadequacy with sincerity and respect for his character. Completing the tribe is Poly, Thespis’ intelligent, book-loving sister who is trying to step out of her comfort zone and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Though her character may be struggling to find her voice, Claire-Marie Hall is not, wowing the audience with her beautiful vocals, and portraying Poly with a care and tenderness that allows you to connect with and relate to her.

Rhys Taylor is delightfully unhinged as The Tyrant, bringing a Julian Clary-esque campness to the role, and showcasing their remarkable vocal range. They swan about the stage with a manic, unsettling aura, which when paired with their expert comedic timing, culminates in a fantastically funny, captivating performance. Finally, forming the brilliant Greek Chorus Line are understudies Curtis Patrick, Ashley Tucker and Josh Patel-Foster, who each bring enormous amounts of passion and energy to the show.

In true Mischief style, they've created something special with Thespians, and I hope it gets the bright, successful future it deserves. The show feels simultaneously fresh and inventive and exciting, yet familiar in its warmth and signature comedy; the result being an evening full of joy and laughter, and a journey home with a gigantic smile on your face.

And possibly a craving for feta.

Thespians plays at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester until 23rd May, before touring to Bath, Swindon, Guildford, Cheltenham, Cardiff and Manchester, concluding on 18th July. Tickets at: https://www.mischiefcomedy.com/whats-on/thespians/

Photos by  Mark Senior