Paul Coltas
'A night of pure escapism, lots of laughs and camp, wildly over-the-top humour,' is Mark Woollard's review of Benidorm Live, which is on until Friday, March 16 at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
Details
Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre
Dates: 11 March - 16 March, 7.30 pm
OUR VERDICT
You could be excused for being wary about this popular ITV comedy making the transition from screen to stage. Especially as the last offering on ITV struggled for laughs and seemed rather exhausted after ten series.
But those who doubted the transition will be proved sorely wrong. The stage version breathed fresh, new life into what had slowly become a worn out TV format.
From the moment the lights came up, the audience couldn’t get enough. And you immediately knew you were in for a night of raucous, camp entertainment. The opener featured men dancing to a Spanish infused tune, wearing tight T-shirts designed to show off their physiques. The tone was well and truly set.
Some people may call Benidorm simple, unintelligent, gutter humour. And you wouldn’t be far wrong. Kenneth, the crass salon manager being called ‘A fat gay slag’ sparked one of the biggest laughs of the night.
The audience was full of hardcore Benidorm fans. As each of the regular cast members made their entrances, loud screams erupted from the auditorium.
The actors clearly love the show and their characters and this is reflected in each and every one of their performances. It’s performed with a refreshing openness and a complete sense of mischief.
The production certainly has no deep or meaningful message to offer, but if you want a night of pure escapism, lots of laughs and camp, wildly over-the-top humour, Benidorm Live might just be for you.
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