Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical Review – Phoenix Theatre

Spitting Image is a British satirical television puppet show that was first broadcast in 1984. The series featured puppet caricatures of celebrities and public figures. Running until 1996 before getting a reboot in 2020, it’s now made its way to the West End. Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical was written by the tour de force comedy team of Al Murray, Sean Foley, and Matte Forde. And it’s making its West End premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London.

Narrated by Master of Ceremonies Sir Ian McKellen, we find ourselves a week before the King’s Coronation. The fabric of society is in tatters and must be fixed before Charles can be coronated. The fabric of society literally being an old pair of knickers. He tasks Tom Cruise to create the UK’s very own ‘Magnificent Seven’ of celebrity misfits to save the nation. And after meeting RuPaul at a Downing Street party they go in search of their crack team.

They initially go to the Ukraine to try and enlist the President but he’s too busy fighting for his country. Putin, who has been watching from the Royal box, is enraged and tries to shut down the show. He performs Putin In The Blitz, and it was almost an out of body experience. Watching a puppet perform a full song and dance routine with an X-rated ending. One of those moments you can’t stop laughing but also question what is happening right now!

To find the remaining members of their team they put together a talent show, Britain Needs Saving. Hosted by Ant & Dec they recruit Angela Rayner, Tommy Fury, Idris Elba, and Greta Thunberg. Watching in the wings are Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who keeps plugging his new book. Meghan realises this is her chance to audition for the role of a lifetime and completes the seven. And what does a ragtag team of heroes need? A nemesis!

Enter Boris Johnson and his anti-villain league of Richi Sunak, Donald Trump, Richard Murdock, Mohammed bin Salman, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and James Corden. Boris performs a parody of Lion King’s I Just Can’t Wait To Be King. He wants to stop the Magnificent Seven saving the fabric of society so he can step in and be King. Insert carnage, schemes, and some obscure musical numbers as they compete for the right to be crowned.

One of the most impressive parts of the show were the puppeteers. A lot of the puppets were the top halves, so their own bodies were the bottom half. This meant they would need to perform full dance routines whilst still working the mechanics of the puppets. The puppets are well made, and the voiceover artists are very skilled. You would think that several of the celebrities were actually involved with how well they voiced their puppets.

The staging is very elaborate and impressive as they portray multiple different locations. I did struggle with the lighting though, which at times was completely blinding. I had to close for my eyes for the majority of Suella Braverman’s parody of Thriller. Overall, the show is a chance to fun night out that will give you a good laugh. If you’re easily offended, then this isn’t the show for you, but just remember it’s all a bit of fun. Especially in a world where a lot of speech is being censored. Book your tickets to Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical now.

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Photo Credit: Mark Senior