Notes From Row H

West End Theatre Review – The Cambridge Theatre

Every month the Olivier award winning Showstopper! takes over the Cambridge Theatre on the West End, and with help from the audience, the cast improvise an entire musical. This means everything: from the songs and plot to the music and lighting is completely made up on the stage – which is extraordinary. 

For two hours of pure joy and laughter, we watched a musical called ‘Uncloved’ which was set on the Isle of Wight during their famous Garlic Festival. The styles of songs (which were audience suggested) were: The Book of Mormon, Les Misérables, Lin Manuel Miranda, and Titanique – all of which are obviously completely and utterly at home in a musical about a garlic festival on the Isle of Wight. This particular musical was full of impressive dance and song numbers (including a fosse dance break) and vampires, all of which culminated in a heartwarming love story ending in a tragic death – there is something in it for everyone. 

The cast themselves were flawless. They were clever, quick, infectiously funny, and extremely talented singers – at one point they all gave a tremendous rendition of a version of One Day More from Les Mis that was particularly impressive. You would not have thought that the cast on stage were making it up on the spot, because they were so natural and quick off the mark, that it almost felt as if it could have been a West End musical! 

As well as their monthly shows at the Cambridge Theatre, Showstopper! is hosting a 50-hour Improvathon at The Pleasance, London from 27^th February until 1^st March. It sounds like it is going to be chaos!

This was my first time seeing a Showstopper! show, despite hearing about them about four years ago – however, it certainly will not be my last! It is such a fantastic show, and I cannot wait to see them again. 

Written by Helena Featherstone