Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review. All views are our own

For every musical theatre mega-hit like Hamilton and Les Mis, there are hundreds, even thousands, of musicals that haven’t managed to set the West End and Broadway on fire. Whether they didn’t win over the critics, blew their budgets or failed to get bums on seats – or perhaps a mix of all three – theatre’s history is full of early closures, rotten reviews, financial disasters and some shocking health and safety breaches.

This showcase performance ahead of a return to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer took place in a very stagey basement bar, underneath London’s Phoenix Theatre – itself home to big musical successes like Blood Brothers and Come From Away. A fittingly ironic venue for a show about musical flops then!

Australian entertainer Arthur Hull puts some of these ill-fated and largely forgotten shows back under the spotlight, in a one-man cabaret performance that pokes fun at these musical misfires but always delivered with an element of positivity and genuine respect for those creatives who were bold enough to put their work out there in the first place. Describing his show as including the BEST songs makes it clear this is not intended as an attack and, throughout the hour we spend with Hull, he shows us his expert knowledge of the musical flop through a series of entertaining anecdotes, as well as performing his stand-out songs from this rather niche “sub-genre” – a great mix of crazy lyrics and tuneful melodies that pack a surprisingly emotional punch.

An evening full of unknown songs could drag a little as audiences do love familiarity. Hull has this covered. Early on, he talks about the failure of Babes in Arms as a stage musical, and then performs its saving grace, “My Funny Valentine”, a much loved song that has now been recorded by over 600 artists. He also manages to include Andrew Lloyd Webber in his line-up – via Phantom’s unnecessary sequel, Love Never Dies, and targeting the Golden Raspberry Award (Razzie) winning film version of Cats – a great opportunity to perform the brilliant “Macavity”! A British audience might question the inclusion of Tammy Faye in this catalogue of catastrophe, given its critically-acclaimed and sold-out London run and success at the Olivier awards, but its subsequent failure on Broadway goes to show that there are no guarantees in this cut-throat business we call show!

Arthur Hull is a hugely talented singer and musician, showing off powerful vocals and a gorgeous falsetto. Despite his jet lag, he is full of energy performing ridiculous original (flop) choreography and laughing at his failed attempts at a head stand. He’s confident, engaging and full of charisma. There’s a little bit of audience participation – nothing too daunting – and we don’t dwell on any one musical for too long. He cleverly tops and tails the show, opening with a number that’s a great pastiche on the classic show tune, setting up the premise. And to close we have a number from a massive hit show, The Producers, totally fitting given its subject matter!

FLOP is a thoroughly entertaining hour. Musical theatre fans will lap it up but there are plenty of fun facts, well performed songs and engaging interaction to win over those audience members who don’t have show tunes running through their veins. You’ll leave the show with a smile on your face and a sudden desire to do a deep dive into what really went on at Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark!

FLOP! The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals is at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, playing at Gilded Balloon, Teviot from Thursday 6th to Sunday 30th August.

It then returns to London for a run at Wilton’s Music Hall from Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th September.

★ ★ ★ ★

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