The Start Of Something New?
August 8th, 2008 by Jonathan DudleyMusicals have to compete harder than ever these days. With the likes of Wicked, Mamma Mia! and Hairspray raking in cash hand over fist and breaking records left right and centre, it takes something very special to make an impact.
Eurobeat, the hilarious musical satire of the Eurovision Song Contest, is trying something very different indeed. It is billing itself as the “worlds first interactive musical”. Upon entering the theatre the audience is split, each section is given one of ten competing countries to support. Ten separate musical parodies are performed, one from each of the countries the divided audience represents. The audience votes for their favourites via text message.
The beauty of Eurobeat is that the voting is for real, each night a different act could win and neither the cast nor audience knows who has won until the end of the show. This creates a superb sense of friendly rivalry which makes Eurobeat one of the most fun shows to see as part of a large group, especially if you get split up.
Eurobeat’s UK tour is causing quite a stir. Critics and audiences alike are lapping up the camp, unbridled silliness of the show. The Brighton Argus described the show as “a brilliantly silly celebration of everything the UK loves about the Eurovision Song Contest”. The Metro declared Eurobeat “fantastically over the top and gloriously kitsch”. The Guardian went as far as to say that the Eurobeat performances were better than real Eurovision entries.
Who knows, this might take off. Imagine being able to vote and manipulate the outcome of your favourite shows. You could make Pumba Pride Leader instead of Simba in The Lion King, a happy ending for Blood Brothers perhaps?
Eurobeat is still touring the UK at the moment. It will be at the Novello Theatre, London between 4th September 2008 and 15th November 2008. Personally, I think I’m looking forward to it more than the real thing.
Here’s a sneaky little peek at the UK’s “entry”
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