Saturday, May 18

Baby Wants Candy – Assembly George Square Studios

The concept of this, from the group that also produces Shamilton earlier in the day, is to take shouted audience suggestions and to create a hilarious comedy musical on the spot. When I visited, Mimi Todd and Dear Euan McGregor were considered, but the clear winner on the shoutometer was Barbies of The Galaxy – the Musical.

And I grudgingly have to admit that it was pretty damn amazing what they came up with. A funny, quirky, catchy musical with some inspired choreography, amazing music, great singing. It was a bit like watching a very early workshop run of a comedy musical that a comedy musical genius has been working on, in his garage, for the last six months. That’s the kinda vibe we are talking about. How??

This is a fickle thing, a show that one night might produce a one star rating and another the full five stars! How annoying, but at the same time also very clever that the format of the show makes you want to go and see it again and again. That gambler’s thirst for, It could be even better next time, never really leaves you, and has made this show the undoubted hit that it is.

It also makes you wonder if they are going to sing the same song about Primark tomorrow and the next day, and the next day, just with some names and words changed around? Maybe they just use the exact same songs every night and change the words around a bit? Maybe the only acting they are doing is deliberately trying to look amateur and intentionally making mistakes? So many questions!! It is infuriatingly brilliant!

Formulaic, prosaic and at times just not funny – at all! has the crowd rolling and groaning in equal quantity and loving it.

The uber-talented six-strong cast and brilliant four-piece band all look like they are completely relaxed and having an absolute ball, which is probably the biggest piece of the jigsaw. Just relax. Everything is going to be just fine. We are going to make this work. And they do!

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 13th August 2023

North West End UK Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.
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