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Swiftly allaying any fears that the only notable thing about this production would be its moniker, 'Catchy!' kicked off to a strong start with a surprisingly rousing number about death. Set in Plague-ridden London, this well-paced musical tells the story of Tom and Beth, madly in love but facing challenges due to opposing backgrounds, he a lowly body collector and she the Mayor's daughter. Star-crossed lovers form the basis of many a show but thankfully a laugh-a-minute script, chockablock with innuendo and unforgettable song lyrics - including "Don't be sad, necrophilia's not so bad" - as well as a solid cast, particularly Graham Morris-Almond, wonderful as the ridiculous Samuel Pepys, work to steer this one away from monotony. Ensure that you 'catchy' (sorry, couldn't resist) this gem of a performance if you can!
Dickens’s Oliver Twist and the oeuvre of Graham Norton appear to collide in the deliciously vulgar Catchy! Seventeenth century plague-ridden London provides the grim setting for this classic love story, replete with tyrannical fathers, mistaken identities and lovers from opposite sides of the track Diarist Samuel Pepys becomes a hilarious central character, hamming his way through the production in true pantomime-baddie style. Abundant innuendo and puns keep the audience happily sniggering throughout. Despite a brief drop in energy during the middle section, the impressive cast clearly loved every minute. Particularly convincing were Lizzie Feltham as the cheeky Gwen and Sam Millard’s lovesick Tom. Gorgeous period costume and a fabulous Brian May wig complete the picture. For pure, simple entertainment you can’t go wrong with a bit of Catchy!
Restoration London at the time of the plague. Dead bodies lie unburied in the street and the end of the world is nigh. An inspired piece of Bad Taste, this is the setting for Total Beast Company's lively comic musical.
The opening number 'It's a Beautiful Day (to take the bodies away)' sets the tone, the cast clearly enjoying belting it out on stage. Along the way there are nods to Monty Python and Oliver! (especially in the moving 'Tom's Song') but the songs remain original, well- crafted and the quality is there.
Both David Montieth (Samuel Pepys/Poops) and Felix Pring (as mountebank Dr Hemlock)ham it up gloriously. When Pepys launches into a hilarious Spinal Tap routine about 'My Prodigious Limb' the audience were in uproar. Emma Chappelle-Hedges' Gwen provides a comic turn of equal parts charm and bawdiness.
Lyricists/writers Julian Bain and Chris Stevens have tapped into a rich vein of Bawdy English music hall humour and have come up trumps. With no respect for historical accuracy, Catchy! is a highly enjoyable romp which I thoroughly recommend you see.
The cult musical was conceived by Julian Bain & Chris Stevens in 2000. Songs from the show were performed over the following years with scenes staged at the Cockpit Theatre in 2004 leading to a full performance in 2005. The show went on to become an Edinburgh Festival Fringe Sell Out show at the Bedlam Theatre and has been a sell out show at the 2008 Brighton Festival where it was performed at the Brighthelm Centre
