COULD I BE any more exhausted?!
Ten seasons and a total of 236 episodes of the global TV phenomenon that was Friends packed into one two-and-a-half hour stage show.
I was tired just watching, so I've no idea quite how the cast managed it all.
Parody musical Friendsical, which opened its UK tour at MAST Mayflower Studios last night, is an action-packed love letter to a show which clearly remains in the hearts of fans of a 90s vintage and new generations who have enjoyed the cosntant re-runs ever since.
Members of the sold-out audience were obviously aficionados and loved every second of the in-jokes, the rehashing of favourite scenes and the slightly bonkers and occasionally baffling new numbers.
It really did have it all. There was everything from Monica with a turkey on her head to Ross and his leather trousers via Rachel's hair, Phoebe's guitar, Joey's chat-up lines and Chandler's awkward one-liners.
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One particularly frantic number included the revelation of Monica and Chandler's relationship, Rachel's pregnancy and Ross's inability to file for a third divorce. I just about managed to keep up.
Other stand-out moments included the revelation of the seven erogenous zones, pivoting and endless lobster references.
The six central cast, most notably Tim Edwards as Chandler and Sarah Michelle-Kelly as Monica, clearly know the show well, picking up on even subtle mannerisms and on occasion completely nailing the original characters.
Louise Redknapp gave a number of delightful cameos, culminating in an appearance in the most memorable song of the night about Richard and his impressive moustache.
It's upbeat and full of energy. Huge fans of the show will revel in the nostalgia of it all, but there's nothing original here. Friendsical is certainly funny as it recreates scene after scene from a comedy classic. However, the premise of the show, a musical Ross decides to put together about the gang, is disjointed and the scene changes from Central Perk to Monica's apartment and back can be clunky.
It's far from a smelly cat, but nor does it quite live up to the hype.
- Friendsical continues until tomorrow (Wednesday September 7) at MAST Mayflower Studios. Tickets from mayflowerstudios.org.uk
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