Berlusconi: A New Musical London Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (8)
See it if You love musicals and want to find out more about this character, with similarities to other recent global politicians. Good cast
Don't see it if You’re not into musicals. Much better than other reviews suggest.
See it if you want to see what "Evita on acid" means on stage - this definitely feels feverish and trippy, like you're present in someone else's dream
Don't see it if you want a serious musical that teaches you about Berlusconi or you object to swearing - there is a lot
See it if You like political musicals - quite innovative staging for this venue
Don't see it if You like musicals with memorable/good music.
See it if You don't know about Berlusconi and need a crash course via musical wholly sung
Don't see it if You hate chaotic shows where characters are all around. Even the content they show on different screens vary and it was a struggle to follow
See it if you want a frivolous show, that is less satire than inane, driven by a confusing narrative.
Don't see it if you’re looking for a witty satire that digs deep for its gags, rather than playing to the lowest denominators possible. Read more
See it if You're interested in unusual takes in Italian politics
Don't see it if You're not ok with less-than-well-thought musical numbers
See it if Probably, don’t.
Don't see it if It doesn’t add anything, it doesn’t lead to anything. And it’s just a bit too long. 🥲
See it if You want to see a fast paced, original musical charting the life of an Italian despot then this is for you! SO funny, great music & staging
Don't see it if You think Berlusconi was an honest politician and Putin was really his friend !!
Critic Reviews (11)
“The show has a lively vulgarity, a few good numbers and a democratic(-ish) heart...But it’s also fatuous, repetitive and has the worst set I’ve seen in years”
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“We never feel the sting of the satire, or come to know these characters. At over two hours long, it’s a shame such an inspired idea ends up feeling so banal and interminable.”
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"If they retool the script — or perhaps bring in another writer — they could have a hit on their hands."
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"Though more bonkers than bellissimo, like its indomitable subject, this audacious musical has staying power."
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“All in all, this needs a considerable amount of work to become as accomplished as several of the shows it’s so strongly reminiscent of, but it is still refreshing to encounter a bold new musical with brains, brawn, unashamed theatricality and packed with good tunes.”
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“The biggest problem in ‘Berlusconi’ is the story itself. It seemingly has no idea what it is or what it is trying to say. This results in a show which is tonally inconsistent and all over the place – its only consistency is in how confused it always is.”
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“The show has no idea where it’s trying to take us. There’s no plot, no character development, nothing driving the show forwards. It’s just song after song after song, each of which outstays its welcome.”
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"That Berlusconi was ... a reprehensible individual is inarguable, but, minus the politics, we get something a little too bland to sustain a full length musical...Perhaps the real revenge this show offers to his victims is that it portrays Silvio as what he would dislike above all else – it makes him ordinary."
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