Blink Again! Turn on the Lights

Returning to the Above The Stag Theatre for its third year in a row Blink! is back with Blink Again! Turn on the Lights!;. A musical revue of songs from productions that have failed to fly from Broadway to the West End or didn’t even get started in either, this show is a rollercoaster ride through some of the best and the worst of musical history.

Delightfully tongue-in-cheek this production is very ably directed and choreographed by Tim McArthur. Songs which aren’t absolutely awful, which are in some cases quite beautiful – “Grief Never Grow Old”, “Lilly’s Eyes” – are simply and sincerely delivered while more bizarre offerings – “Invoking Chant”, “Cat and The Moon” – have the mickey taken out of them with laugh-out-loud abandon. The revue’s programme is well balanced with much of the best comedy happening in the second half which ensures you leave with a smile on your face. You certainly won’t be tempted to leave at interval however thanks to the full companies disco delight “All I Need Is Disco” and the promise of an Umbrellas of Cherbourg pastiche following interval (well worth the wait).

As the full company leap, hobble, or roller-shoe across the stage you can tell they are having a whale of a time which is part of the joy of an evening which doesn’t take itself too seriously while the solo numbers showcase the real talent of these performers. A particular nod goes to Jamie Lee who not only performed a gloriously crazy-eyed “Gloria” but held her own through a rogue alarm.

A night of frivolous fun this show is a fantastic way to pass an evening having a good laugh at the ludicrousness of some theatrical ventures, and in some cases may make you wish they’d try again because who doesn’t want to see Dance of the Vampires on stage – perhaps it could be Robert Pattinson’s West End debut?!