With one's tongue very firmly placed in one's cheek, this is a camp musical romp like no other. And it's brilliant!
Eugenius! is a musical parody of just about everything that happened in the 1980s, and it even seems to parody itself too, which is quite an acheivement; but the whole is a glorious, and (I hate this term) feel-good, couple of hours away from the stark realities of life!
It's 1988 and a teenage geek (not to be confused with a nerd) is writing a comic book about a super hero called Tough Man, and as the plot becomes denser and more idiotic, we find that after winning a school writing competition for his story to be made into a Hollywood film, he gets whisked away to California to work with a big and bad-ass producer who butchers his script and ideas left right and centre. However, reality and fantasy cross over each other and in a plot as thick as mulligatawny (which I do think needs a slight rethink if the show were to be produced again) the comic book evil brother of Tough Man, Lord Hector is defeated by Eugene and his girlfriend who all the time have been the real Tough Man and girlfriend, Superhot Lady.
However, if one doesn't dwell too much on the implausabilities of even this plot which is completely whacky at best, the show is a sure-fire hit! Everything is a beautiful 1980's lampooned recreation, right down to getting Brian Blessed to do the voice-over narrations in the style of the Flash Gordon film! (genius!) I actually lost count of all the corny and Mickey-taken references, from The Rocky Horror Show, Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, OJ Simpson, Les Miserables, Back To The Future etc etc. However my two personal favourites were the brilliant idea of casting Tough Man in the Hollywood film as Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Lex Hogan's entrance song being a complete rip from 'All I Care About Is Love' from 'Chicago'.
The Other Palace in London is quite a small space. Having never been I had no idea what to expect, but it possibly has a capacity of about 300 at a guesstimate; however the interesting and creative use of space for this rpoduction was brilliant, as well as one of the most creative and ever-changing lighting plots I've ever seen on a studio theatre stage.
The whole thing is a zany, B-movie parody, but is simply fun fun FUN!! The sterling cast includes Rob Houchen (Eugene), Laura Baldwin (Janey), Daniel Buckley (Feris), Scott Paige (Theo), Alex Bourne (Lex), and Neil McDermott (Lord Hector), whilst the book, music and lyrics were supplied by Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins, the whole was directed with affection and flair by Ian Talbot, the Musical Direction was under superb control by Daren Lord, and the totally '80's choreography (I remember some of those moves!) was by Aaron Renfree.
I can only hope that once theatres start to reopen a small tour of this show will be mounted and it makes a visit to Manchester (my home town), I really can't wait to see this live! It's simply Eugenius!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 6/5/20
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