What do you get when you cross Jerry Lee Lewis, Shakespeare and Star Trek?
The answer might look something like cult classic musical Return to the Forbidden Planet, which is playing a run of eight shows at the New Wimbledon Theatre this week.
Cult 80s musical Return to the Forbidden Planet returns to the stage for 25th anniversary
Return to the Forbidden Planet is back for a 25th anniversary tour, having run for 1,500 performances when it opened on the West End in 1989.
Mark Newnham as Cookie and Greg Last as navigation officer in Return to the Forbidden Planet. Photo: Nobby Clark
It is very loosely based on 1956 sci-fi film The Forbidden Planet, which itself was loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
Sean Needham, Captain Tempest and on the right, Jonathan Markwood as Prospero.
The incidental plot, following a spaceship crew and their encounter with mad scientist Dr Prospero, is basically nonsensical but in the end it really doesn’t matter.
The story simply acts as a prop allowing the Shakespeare jokes and rocking musical numbers to take centre stage.
Creator Bob Carlton’s dialogue comprises of Shakespearean language knowingly tweaked with references to 1950’s sci-fi movies, making for a bizarre mash-up of highbrow and frankly silly humour.
The show also features Queen guitarist, badger cull campaigner and doctor in astrophysics Brian May appearing via video projection as the narrator.
Whilst the entire multi-instrumental cast performed well, Mark Newnham, who plays lovelorn chef Cookie, steals the show with a quite incredible guitar medley which goes from She’s Not There by The Zombies to Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze by way of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit.
The rousing climax, which featured Heard it Through The Grapevine, Johnny B Goode and an inflatable planet thrown into the audience, allowed the musicians to show off their skills and got the crowd off their seats.
If you are after thought-provoking insight into the human condition from your theatre, steer well clear, but those seeking a night of kitsch rock’n’roll fun, look no further!
Return to the Forbidden Planet; New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon; March 23 to 28, 7.30pm, mats Thurs and Sat, 2.30pm; £12.90 to £38.90; atgtickets.com.
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