What makes a good parody? Or, perhaps a better question, what makes a good joke? In 2018, it would be nice to think that we’ve reached the stage where humour doesn’t need to come at the cost of others, and that parody gently mocks without reanimating the worst of an original.
On these grounds, Eugenius, the latest offering at The Other Palace, fails spectacularly. Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins’ musical is about a young boy, Eugene, whose talent in comic book writing removes him from his high school – where, as a boy who prefers superheroes to football, he isn’t hugely popular – and brings him to Hollywood. The show sets itself up as an homage/parody of 1980s comic book culture, but only really succeeds in repeating the overdone statement that eventually the geeks will inherit the earth, and the girl.
The show can barely last five minutes without some form of misogynistic comment, and if there isn’t one of these then it’s probably because the gap has been filled by something homophobic instead. Whilst it seemed at points that this might have been being set up in order to be knocked down – the female lead in Eugene’s comic is literally called ‘Super Hot Lady’, which seemed rife for mockery – the show fails to deliver. Women are reduced to virgins or whores, and even Janey, the female characters whose inherent geekiness had mostly saved her from any scenes in underwear, goes through a Grease-esque transformation before the final scene, so she too can come onstage in nothing but her underwear.
Am I being too harsh? I thought this whilst watching the show. Is it possible to parody eighties geek culture without incorporating the objectification that women faced then? One needs only to think of Carrie Fisher’s slave outfit in Star Wars (the film series that Eugenius repeatedly desperately references in an attempt to show kinship) and the uncomfortable interviews in which she describes men admitting to masturbating over her image to be reminded of how exactly geek culture worked. Indeed, at one particularly tasteless point this seems to be referenced, sidekick Feris tells us that he laminates his comics so they are ‘wipe clean’.
The score, although perhaps a little too familiar, is strong, and the actors do well with the script they have – Liam Forde, making his West End debut as Eugene, has a gorgeous voice, and he leads the ensemble admirably. The band were also impeccable, traversing a range of styles without a note out of place.
Eugenius runs until Saturday 3rd March. Tickets start at £15 and are available from The Other Palace’s website.
ryanfromhighschoolmusical says
this is the only review of Eugenius that matters and I thank you so much for posting it! so many jokes were unbelievably ill-advised and the women characters barely drawn (we’re really using the term “friend zone” in a new musical in 2018? ok sure) (and also the kid trying to convince super hot lady that he was an agent in order to seduce her, just boggles the mind!!) your point about these things being set up to be knocked down is so poignant and i think that’s why i was so frustrated with this show, because they were used in earnest. so glad i’m not the only one who felt this way.
also the agonising les mis reference. whatever the opposite of landing is, that’s what it did. goodness.
Elizabeth says
Completely disagree. I loved it, so much so I’ve rebooked to go again. I’m a child of the era this is based around and was in stitches the whole time. All the references hit home and delivered.
The Super Hot Lady character is created in a teenage boys mind (that’s how boys minds work), hence the name. Women being skantilly clad, what about all the men in skin tight body suits!
This show is very clever, well written, has a rediculously catchy soundtrack and deserves to do very well.
Matthew Lord says
Sorry but this reviewer is desperately out of touch with the audiences reaction to this show. I have rarely seen a new production so rapturously well received. I can’t even fathom how prudish one must be to form the opinions above… just bizarre. I loved it, my wife loved it, my two kids loved and so did everyone else in the audience.
Nick says
Have to totally disagree. This is a bit of fun and as a homage to the 80s worked well. Went to see it this week and everyone there (male and female) loved it!!