Return to the Forbidden Planet was an entertaining and competent production by the Happily Ever After Society. Being the first musical in Central Hall of the year I was excited to go see this production, although a little dubious of the choice, knowing only it was a juke box musical set in space. On entering the hall you are transported into a spaceship, with silver staging and cast members in futuristic clothes lined up the aisles, this is furthered by the introduction speech in which you are given a ‘flight safety talk’, fully involving you the scene. This introduction had already numbed my doubts, and, within minutes of the show starting, all my fears were proved wrong! The cast all had fabulous voices, and the first song ‘wipe out’ was a great introduction to this entertaining adaptation of ‘The Tempest’.
The story followed the crash of Captain Tempest’s (Nic Munday) spaceship onto a planet inhabited by Dr Prospero (James Ball). With a love triangle between the Captain, Cookie (Tom Jones) and Prospero’s daughter Miranda (Gemma Wilton), and the tension between ex’s Prospero and his run-away wife (Katy Wood) creating some comic moments, keeping us Rom-Com fans entertained. While Ariel the Robot (Benedick Gibson) and Bosun (Tom Holmes) kept us giggling with their attempts at helping these lovers sort themselves out. All the cast had fabulous voices, as well as being extremely capable actors and actresses, making us laugh at the Shakespearian puns (‘two beeps or not two beeps’ being a personal favourite) and cry (ok, maybe it was just me that cried) at the tragic sacrificing death of Dr Prospero.
The large dance crew and chorus was also good, with a mixture of dancing being incorporated into the show, though occasionally out of time or blocking some of the signers, it was still entertaining and created a good atmosphere on stage. The band, slightly hidden at the back of the stage, was also fantastic, playing fantastically throughout, and continuing after the show for those of us still in the hall.
The only slight fault I could find with the show was their slightly over eagerness with smoke machines which led to a few of us to have small coughing fits! However, everyone in the show, and in the audience seemed cheered by the show, and Happily Ever After certainly fulfilled their promise of a feel good musical!