Scouts! The Musical - The Other Palace, London
Bear Grylls, Taylor Swift, and my brother. What do they all have in common? They were Scouts! And with the crackle of a campfire and the tying of a neckerchief, The Other Palace brings them to life to provide a great evening of entertainment for all in Scouts! The Musical.
From the moment you arrive in The Studio, you are transported to a bustling jamboree full of joy and light, but what unfolds is sheer brilliance that I urge you to experience for yourself. Sam Cochrane and David Fallon have created an utter masterpiece in entertainment, with catchy tunes, hilarious pop culture references (there’s a badge for that!), and a villain origin story that even Ursula would be jealous of.
More often than not, newer shows host weak storylines that have you checking your watch before the interval is even on the horizon, but Scouts! uses comedy and real-life scouting experiences to create a tale that is sidesplittingly funny and has you hooked from start to finish. The songs are beautifully constructed and the performance of them alone makes you want to come back for more. The added audience participation in the show provides an additional layer of entertainment. The performers’ ability to seamlessly integrate audience members into the show is admirable, considering there are different visitors every night. The interactive nature, and occasional breaking of the fourth wall, helps make the characters relatable and loveable, ensuring you laugh at even their smallest of jokes.
The Scouts themselves are wonderful, with each bringing a different and unique personality to the group. It is also hugely impressive that the musical accompaniment is provided by the performers themselves, with each rotating between a number of different instruments, which seemed to grow as the show went on - a recorder even makes an appearance!
There are a number of scouting references throughout to maintain the authenticity of the story, but not so many as to alienate the audience members who have never had experience with the network before. It reeks of nostalgia and cheese, but strikes the perfect balance - impeccably satirical, but not overly cringey.
I can’t help but feel that the cosy, intimate space of The Other Palace’s Studio doesn’t do the piece justice. I sincerely hope that this stint in the West End prompts a tour or a prolonged engagement in a larger venue, as it is an absolute must-see for anyone after an evening of proper entertainment. I hope to be sat back around the campfire very soon.
This show was reviewed on the 22nd June 2023. Scouts! The Musical runs at The Other Palace, London until the 9th July 2023. Tickets available here: Scouts! The Musical - The Other Palace Theatre
***** stars
Jasmine Richards
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