Premiering on YouTube yesterday the curtains were lifted on this unique lockdown collaboration. Here is our Theme Park Fan The Musical review.
The musical follows the story of a theme park fan named Jamie. He’s new to the enthusiast community and wants to become famous.
While the musical is still centred around theme parks, it’s also a coming of age story about finding yourself amongst a group of like-minded friends who share a common interest.
Theme Park Fan The Musical tells the story of Jamie, a theme park enthusiast who is making his way to the grand opening of a new ride in Blackpool. We follow his journey to opening day as he experiences hesitations about trying to fit into the theme park community.
A heartwarming story almost takes a backseat to the plethora of musical numbers that steal the show entirely and whisk us away into the atmosphere of this energetic production.
With lockdown adding limitations such as on-stage performances the production team have used visual stage references and lighting queues to paint the picture of the scenes unfolding before us.
What I loved about this subtle visual medium is that it still leaves the scenes open to interpretation.
Being the audio journey that Theme Park Fan The Musical is you’re going to have your own images in your head about what the theme park looks like, what this new ride is going to look like and what characters within the story are going to look like.
I really love the idea that every single person who has watched or will watch the musical will each have their own unique version of the story within their minds.
The musical kick starts with a Jetsons meets Bill and Ted 80s synth and guitar intro that paints the mood in a cheesy and cheery way as Jamie prepares for his big theme park day out after staying in a Blackpool BnB.
As Jamie enters the park he sees familiar vloggers who he aspires to be like but his own limitations in confidence and knowledge of the community stop him from truly being himself as he holds back in every encounter with these known faces.
If you follow the theme park community you’ll spot the spoof names and references to many known theme park vloggers but there is something for everyone and the production is very layered catering to a broad spectrum of fans.
You have the surface level of story that the general public can relate to where you’re stepping into a hobby you know nothing about and you’re going through the same nerves and emotions that Jamie’s character is going through.
On the flip side, you could know everything about roller coasters and you’ll not only pick up all the references in the show but even famous quotes and known events from the community.
It’s nice to have a broad range of easter eggs scattered throughout so that everyone can enjoy it but I did personally feel as though the general public would be the ones who would miss out on the deeper meanings of the production.
There are so many references throughout that for a newbie it would be hard to keep up with as the surface level part of the story doesn’t hook you in as much as the deeper meanings and references would for others.
Theme Park Fan The Musical is a production that could potentially evolve the more you learn and the more you know about the community which I find fascinating.
The production will grow in appeal the more you find out about particular aspects of not only roller coasters and theme parks but the people in the community who bring their content alive with knowledge, fun and quirky quotes.
With the beautiful set renders (created by Keiron Quinn) that felt like a tech rehearsal West End production from start to finish, it’s hard to find fault with this wonderfully polished product.
With a soundtrack to die for that bounces so freely between genres. Standard musical numbers one minute to an expertly crafted rap track and mouth-watering guitar licks the next.
The genres take you on a rollercoaster ride of their own with their ups and downs.
From fast-paced lyricism to slow songs and orchestral style ballads, the soundtrack is phenomenal!
I’d be one of the first to buy it on CD if they ever did release the soundtrack as a separate product.
The quality of songs and the blending of the voices of each creator who has lent their talent to this production was done ever so well.
I can imagine that many of the vloggers in the community have absolutely zero singing experience and I imagine a good proportion of them sound like dying cats belting out those high notes but blended together with a professional mix the ensemble was pitch-perfect.
The creators mixed with genuine singers and stage performers rounded the musical numbers and the storyline was nicely done.
If I had any negatives to say about the production I’d say that it may have gone on a little longer than I was expecting clocking in at 80 mins.
Don’t get me wrong I didn’t want it to end but during the show, a particular scare maze scene did go off on a tangent completely.
The plot definitely went off-road for a split second before returning back but I’m really scraping the barrel here to find a negative.
Hard work, passion and dedication are there for all to see and getting the icon that is John Wardley involved for a brief cameo was such a nice gesture.
Neil Patrick Harris drops in a two-line cameo and just adds a little star quality to proceedings but the producers didn’t take advantage and put him at the forefront of production, Neil was blended in with all the other creators and enthusiasts and that was a really solid choice.
No hierarchy, just togetherness.
No egos, no judgement, just friendship and Theme Park Fan The Musical was a roaring good time that you absolutely must check out.
Hats off to Nick Hutson and the team for a job well done!
Theme Park Fan The Musical review by Sean Evans
Check out our video review below:
Our Rating
Summary
Strap on a pair of decent headphones (you’re going to need them) and ascend the lift hill into a story of ups and downs, twists and turns but a roaring good time from start to finish with a soundtrack to die for!
