Words: Kiera Harper

4 Stars

FLOP! created and performed by Arthur Hull, is a celebration of all musicals, especially those that didn’t turn out too well.

Musical theatre music plays from the moment the audience walks in, setting the scene for the deep cuts in Broadway and West End history that this show treasures and only dedicated theatre fans in the audience will recognise. Ranging from a variety of musicals, from Carrie to King Kong and most recently Diana the musical, FLOP! brilliantly brings together the biggest theatre misfires and finds a way to celebrate them and their flaws.

Hull’s appreciation brings this show to life. It shines through in every song, especially when he takes the time to highlight the artists behind the work, from Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber to every member of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, who would’ve known their show wasn’t being well received but had to keep performing anyway. This sentiment of performing work that isn’t your best will speak to a lot of artists and remind them that even if the art you’ve created is being called bad, you still created something and encourages them to continue creating and try to make something better. 

FLOP! is an entertaining show filled with brilliant singing, extensive theatre knowledge, lively audience interaction, and, most importantly, a deep love for musical theatre. This love will make audiences want to revisit musicals they initially brushed off as being bad with a new outlook and appreciation for the work of creatives across all art forms.

FLOP! The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals 
Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon Teviot
18:45 
5^th – 30^th August (no performances on the 12^th, 19^th and 26^th)