Flat Earthers: The Musical

This just might be the most technically brilliant musical staged at the Hayes, which already has a long history of cleverly shoe-horning productions into its cosy venue.

Entering the theatre the audience is greeted by the simplicity of two rainbow-like arches and suspended cords, faced by a formidable row of digital lighting fixtures.

Text messages, emojis and images are projected onto the arches, frames pop up which characters appear in and out of, all seamlessly choreographed into a kaleidoscope of eye-popping imagery and catchy music.

The five-person video/lighting design team of Daniel Herten, Clemence Williams, Xanthe Dobbie, Tk Abioye and Brockman deserved the biggest ovation.

It perfectly suited the narrative of the two young leads Flick and Ria, who fall for each other over the internet without being entirely sure that the other suitor was on same page.

However, the budding romance had a major obstacle, which was that their families had a different perspective on the world – which they hold with a religious fervour

Flick’s mothers are firm believers that the world is flat. So, to get approval from them in a quick-thinking moment Ria, feeds into their love of conspiracy theories by making up a story that her parents were blown up by authorities whilst on a space mission.

In a sense the rom com has a traditional basis, that being a budding relationship faced by the obstacles of having families from a rival tribe.

The young prospective lovers Manali Datar and Shannen Alyce Quan have a good on-stage chemistry attracting the audience’s support of their coupling, kicked off with their first duet ‘Perfect Girl’.

It is one of several nice tunes in the style of pop, musical theatre and hip hop penned by the song writing team of Tong, Wall and Gales.

In the first act, the jokes and allusions to various internet conspiracies come at pleasing regular intervals delivered by the polished ensemble.

At the end of the first act a new character MZ Prism is introduced into the narrative who sings the song ‘Illuminati Parti’. In the role of the leading Lizard Michelle Brasier sings with a spectacular vibrato flourish that leaves the audience well pleased going into intermission.

The second act goes into a different tangent which looked amazing thanks to laser beams effects, but with the action taking place further downstage it was harder to hear all the lyrics, and the various twists, turns and character absences were harder to get your head around.

Perhaps a little more work on the book might not have gone astray.

Director Declan Greene has had more time on his hands with The Stables under renovation and used that to create an exceptional looking production – which literally blasts into outer space.

The punchline, like the whole production, is entertaining but not clearly backed up by logic.

David Spicer

Photographer: John McRae