USHERS: The Front of House Musical, The Other Palace Review
Photo by Craig FullerReviewed by Eleanor for Theatre and Tonic.
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
Ushers: The Front of House Musical follows the trials and tribulations of a group of ushers and their manager during a night’s performance at the theatre; from welcoming guests to the show, selling ice creams at the interval, and clearing up the rubbish at the end of the show. Although this was my first experience of the musical, it has had a long history. Following a kickstarter campaign, the show first premiered in London in 2013. It then transferred to the Charing Cross Theatre a year later. After a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015, it then had another limited run in London. Almost 10 years later, Ushers is back for another limited run at The Other Palace.
Produced by James Steel and Directed by Max Reynolds, I found Ushers to be an energetic and fun-filled show. Although this book was first written in the 2010s by James Rottger, the musical theatre references were bang up to date (even referencing this year's Olivier awards) and add a great deal to the comedy. But beyond the physical comedy and stagey gags, there is a heartfelt core here. In a day and age when we often hear about difficult circumstances faced by front of house workers, it makes you consider real ushers while maintaining a fun and entertaining evening.
As an audience we follow the first shift of new usher Lucy (Danielle Rose), as her manager (Daniel Page) and the surrounding team teaches her all she needs to know about being a theatre usher. This ranges from a focus on ‘spend per head’ to making sure you have your float before the interval. As well as showing behind the curtain how this Theatrenation venue operates, we also slowly learn more about the private lives of this eclectic group of characters, ranging from a stalking superfan to a wannabe leading man. Although the story is quite superficial without a lot of depth, it is packed with comedy and funny moments. It also effectively helps transition from one song to another. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the more heartfelt moments, especially when the group stand up against the actions of their manager towards the end of the show. Some of my other favourite moments included the use of pre recorded videos by manager Robin, following the format of a series of training videos. Not only does this create effective breaks between scenes, but they were also incredibly funny; they were often the moments when I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The entirety of Ushers: The Front of House Musical is peppered with catchy musical numbers (with music by Yiannis Koutsakos and lyrics by James Oban and Yiannis Koutsakos) which help progress the plot and help us find out more about each character. In regard to the solo numbers, one of which is given it to each usher throughout the show, I thought the strongest numbers were ‘(it's time to) let go,’ sung beautifully by Luke Bayer, and ‘The ballad of Robin Poketts.’ I also thought the latter of which was one of the funniest moments in the show - just so brilliantly over dramatised and sung by Daniel Paige. The show then closes with an excellent group number with lots of brilliant references to famous and well-known musicals. I couldn't help but giggle all the way through.
Although this is ensemble is small it really packs a punch. Daniel Paige's failed opera singer Robin Poketts (it took me far too long to notice the pun in that name!) is a brilliantly bitter and twisted character. Daniel seemed to relish every moment and reacted well to the crowd, almost like a pantomime villain, and I loved watching the other cast members responding to his choices. Similarly, Bethany Amber-Perrins as Rosie shows off some brilliant character acting. She fulfilled a stereotype which was instantly recognisable to me and her over the top movements and expressions were so much fun. Luke Bayer and Cleve September play Ben and Gary respectively. I enjoyed how they were able to show the contrast between these two characters, with one desperately trying to re-enter his profession as an actor and the other worried he may have given up too soon. The cast is then rounded off by Danielle Rose as Lucy and Christopher Foley as Stephen. The way the relationship between these two characters grew felt pretty realistic but was also played for laughs. The entire group come together to create a cast of characters I really enjoyed watching and was also invested in.
Ushers: The Front of House Musical offers a brilliant blend of humour and heart, showcasing the trials and triumphs of theatre ushers. The production is filled with catchy musical numbers and standout performances from the ensemble cast. The story gives a real sense of the kind of friendships you forge when working in the service industry. Overall, I had a brilliant evening at The Other Palace and would definitely recommend catching this limited run if you can.
Ushers: The Front of House Musical is playing at The Other Palace (Studio) from the 18th April 2024 – 19th May 2024.
★ ★ ★ ★
