Review: Showstopper!, Greenwich Theatre

REVIEW
Chihuahuas, a donkey adventure and Primark do not usually a musical make. But then Backstreet Dogs was not your average production.

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is exactly that. Taking suggestions from the audience on the theme, genre, title and style of songs to use, the six-strong cast, two musicians and director craft a show on the spot.

And so, for one night only, we follow the Backstreet Dogs gang of Chihuahuas' turf war with the Alsatians behind Primark in Oxford Street. Chihuahua Minnie, who learns how to pass as an Alsatian in a Gilbert and Sullivan-style number, is blinded in the fight and captured.

However, thanks to Nancy the donkey (cleverly played by two actors), she returns home and is reunited with love, Dominic. The high-pitched screech of delight with which the young girls in the audience greeted their kiss brought one of the biggest laughs of the night. Cure-all Dip Dab and Pedigree Chum restore Minnie's sight and the Chihuahuas and Alsatians live together happily ever after.

It was fascinating to watch the cast thinking on their feet, however the rather limiting theme probably did not allow the actors to show off their obvious talent fully and the story dragged in places.

Nevertheless this quirky production was funny when it did work, with the impressive spontaneous lyrics of the songs outshining the off-the-cuff dialogue. Obviously, there is an element of luck to the format but that is its charm. I would certainly take my chances again.

Showstopper! returns to Greenwich Theatre on November 15.