(Please note, Jerry Springer is now played by David Soul and the nowt2do.com award winning actor David Bedella has now returned to play Satan)

This is your Jerry Springer review. Soon a phrase that will no doubt enter popular culture, from the this is your Jerry Springer label on a t-shirt to this is your Jerry Springer coffee…which Starbucks will no doubt soon be serving, and where does it stem from? Well the immortal line sung by an adult baby on a swing, while Jerry Springer looks on, the trailer trash audience play with flowers and the hard core bouncers blow bubbles, yes “this is my Jerry Springer moment, I don’t want this moment to die, so dip me in chocolate and throw me to the lesbians I don’t want this moment to die.” Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the world of Jerry Springer – The Opera.

As lowbrow tv meets highbrow opera you get a delightful fusion of comedy, opera, and musical theatre. Having occupied the moral low ground on TV for what seems like an eternity Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee have taken this show, and all it’s famous for and managed to turned it into the most outrageous opera you’ll ever see….until they make Osama the opera that is! 

And an opera is truly is, a full two hour twenty minute show of operatic score which includes beautiful arias and foot-tapping musical-esq numbers, this score could stand alone but couple it with the book and lyrics and you have a mega-hit. The show takes classic Jerry Springer style moments such as “I married a transsexual,” and “My father is my brother” and creates the most fantastic lyrics ever imagined.

The first act works as an episode of The Jerry Springer Show, all sung of course and there is something innately humorous about swear words being sung which will have you giggling in your seat like a little schoolgirl. The first act goes through adult babies, a cheating husband, a member of the klu-klux-klan (which brings the house down with laughter at the end of the act, I don’t want to spoil the surprise but prepare to wet yourself!) and of course someone who wants to be a stripper. The second act takes it to a whole new level, yep The Jerry Springer Show In Hell….well it was bound to happen. You needn’t know anymore, it’ll ruin it for you but believe me when I say that this is the funniest thing to appear on a London stage for a long long time. More standing ovations and more rave reviews than any other show in London at the minute can’t be too bad!

The audience really make this show; so the more responsive your crowd are the better, so get involved. This is a truly enjoyable evening out, hilarious foot-tapping fun. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe Jerry Springer The Opera. The strong direction by Stewart Lee mixed with Jenny Arnolds choreography manages to form a visual feast of hilarity. Then throw in Rick Fisher’s lighting and Julian Crouch’s realistic set and you have a high polished, professional and gorgeous production.

However the book, score, songs, set, direction and dancing don’t make the show, the cast do. I’m delighted to say they admirably rise to the challenge and deliver some sterling performances, this has got to be the strongest cast I’ve ever seen on a stage with fantastic performances all round, but extra mentions must go to a few of the leads. David Bedella has got to the be the next big thing, the West-End’s hot property, his portrayal of The Devil and Warm Up Guy is beyond words. A strong smooth singing voice and real gasp of character mean you can’t help but love and adore his performance, your eyes just keep wondering to him while he’s on the stage. Michael Brandon of Dempsy and Makepeace fame manages to capture not only the look but also mannerisms and sound of Jerry Springer perfectly. Valda Aviks amazing voice blows you away as does Alison Jiear who knocks you for six as Shawntel and Eve. Benjamin Lake is big and bloody brilliant and Andrew Bevis is a Chick With a D*ck with one hell of a voice. Finally Wills Morgan who’s been with the show sine the beginning gives his all in a faultless performance.

A musical this is not, your typical opera or evening at the theatre this is not, this is an experience like no other, un-rivalled in its brilliance and originality. This rude, blasphemous and damn right amusing show will have you begging for more.

This is simply sublime, the biggest thing to hit the West End since Cats. Get off your ass and go; there is finally an opera for the masses. People say The Producers is the comedy show, well they should “talk to the hand” Jerry Springer The Opera is what the West End has been waiting for, may it run and run…. altogether now…Jer-ry, Jer-ry, Jer-ry, Jer-ry.

Why not vote for this show in the WOS Theatre Awards?

The Tick List

Book

Lyrics 

Music

Cast 

Set 

Lighting

Overall

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