Friends was, and still is one of the most popular TV shows of all time. There were ten series in total, and one kind of new episode last year (although it wasn’t really), and incredibly, it all came to an end 20 years ago. Switch on your TV at any time of t day or night and there’s a fair chance you’ll find an episode on somewhere.
Even though it ended nearly 20 years ago, the series holds a special place for so many people, either because they were there from the very start of it all, or caught up with the Central Perks regulars much later.
So, with something so beloved and FRIENDSICAL is an original, unique parody musical inspired by the hugely popular and beloved US TV show Friends.
Ross, Rachel, Joey, Monica, Chandler and Phoebe have been with us for nearly 30 years. They are still there for us, and this time a stage show musical parody crams all 10 seasons and 236 episodes into just over two hours of nostalgic fun.
Before we tell you more about the show, we’ve put together our ten favourite quotes from ten seasons of Friends – can you work out which episode each of them came from?
- HOW U DOIN’?
- I ROSS TAKE THEE RACHEL
- JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD!
- WE WERE ON A BREAK
- OH. MY. GOD!
- PIVOT!
- I GOT OFF THE PLANE
- HE’S SO PRETTY I WANT TO CRY
- OKAY, NO UTERUS, NO OPINION
- SEVEN, SEVEN, SEVEN…..
If you can’t remember, the answers are at the bottom of the page.
FRIENDSICAL gives us the chance to join all six friends as they sit around the iconic brown couch in Central Perk and take a trip down memory lane, with all the very best inside jokes, unforgettable scenes and storylines included.
When Ross’ wife leaves him for another woman, he fears he will never find love again. But then Rachel runs back into his life… will he end up with his one true love?
Featuring original songs such as ‘(He’s her) Lobster!’, ‘Richard’s Moustache’ and ‘You’re Over Me? When Were You Under Me?’, the gang take on naked Thursdays, a power cut, and a dinosaur convention.
Former Pussycat Doll KIMBERLY WYATT is confirmed to make a celebrity guest appearance in the comedy musical, written and directed by MIRANDA LAWSON (Christmasaurus, The Night Pirates, Cartoon Network Live), at Cardiff’s New Theatre on the 8th and 9th September before heading out on the rest of its UK-wide tour.
Kimberly will be joining the cast in Cardiff, making special cameo appearances throughout the show including the big disco number “Richard’s Moustache“.
Since leaving the ‘Dolls’ Kimberly has delighted British audiences on screen as a judge for the Sky One series Got to Dance, won the 2015 series of Celebrity MasterChef, reached the finals of ITV’s Dancing on Ice earlier this year in addition to her series regular role across three seasons of BBC’s, Almost Never.
Kimberly said…….
“I’m very excited to announce that I’ll be a special guest for Friendsical! The show Friends is a huge part of my life. ‘How you doin’, ‘Pivot’, and ‘Smelly Cat’ are forever with me. I feel like I’ve seen most episodes multiple times and now I can’t wait to take it to the stage.”
Looking for a tenuous link has to be that a former Pussycat is in a show which features a song about a rather fragrant cat…….
Kimberly joins LOUISE REDKNAPP on the Friendsical celebrity guest line-up, with Louise to take the stage at Southampton’s MAST Mayflower Studios from the 5th to 7th September. These are the first of many celebrity guests to be announced soon.
Now, Strictly star JOANNE CLIFTON has been announced as a special guest for Saturday 10th.
After winning the World Professional Showdance Champion and the European Professional Ballroom Championship, she joined the show as a professional dancer. During her time on the show she performed in the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, was an expert presenter on the programme’s backstage show It Takes Two, won the Christmas Special with McFly’s Harry Judd, and went on to win the Glitterball Trophy as the 2016 champion with her partner Ore Oduba.
But Joanne is no stranger to live theatre.
Joanne was most recently seen playing the roles of Morticia in The Addams Family Musical on the very stage she’ll be standing on this Saturday. Prior to this, she has starred as “Janet” in the No. 1 UK Tour of The Rocky Horror Show, “Alex Owens” in the No. 1 UK Tour of Flashdance, and “Dale Tremont” in Top Hat, where she received her second Offie nomination. Her first was for her acting debut as the Streetwalker in Iriving Berlin’s Face the Music.
Of course this ‘special guest’ thing is something the TV series was famous for and boy did they have some amazing guest over the years.
Reese Witherspoon played Rachel’s sister Jill, George Clooney played a doctor, Adam Goldberg played Chandler’s crazy roommate Eddie, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams appeared shortly, Winona Ryder played Rachel’s friend from college, and Brad Pitt was in ‘The One with the Rumor’ episode.
Alec Baldwin was Phoebe’s boyfriend and Freddie Prinze Jr. played a nanny. Morgan Fairchild and Kathleen Turner played Chandler’s parents, and Paul Rudd went on to become Phoebe’s husband, Mike Hannigan, although he famously had another name in one episode.
Just one little fact you may not know, Ellen DeGeneres was almost cast in the Phoebe role.
Writer-director of Friendsical Miranda Larson told us……
“From day one of airing, I have been a huge fan of the TV Show, and it has been a dream to stage and celebrate this iconic series. There is something for everyone in Friendsical, from the well-known references to ones that only mega fans (like me) will get. Oh and if you are new to “Friends”, then it’s a fun musical love story that can be easily followed!”
Playing everyone’s favourite friends are Sario Solomon as Joey, Sarah Michelle-Kelly as Monica, Nelson Bettencourt as Ross, Tim Edwards as Chandler, Ally Retberg as Phoebe, Amelia Kinu Muus as Rachel, Olivia Williamson as Hot Girl/Ensemble and Tanveer Singh Devgun as Gunther/Male Ensemble.
With book and lyrics by Miranda Larson and music by Barrie Bignold, Friendsical is choreographed by Darren Carnall and associate choreographer Michael Vinsen. The set and costume is designed by Anthony Lamble with lighting design by Dominic Jeffrey and sound design by Olly Steel. Casting is by Nicholas Hockaday and it is produced by Nick Brooke, William Burdett Coutts, Philip Noel and Dave Mauchline.
FRIENDSICAL is produced by Brooke Mauchline Productions Ltd in association with Assembly Festival. The show gets to the New Theatre in Cardiff from Thursday 8th to Saturday 10th September. Evening performances are at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on Saturday. For more details and tickets, go HERE.
This is a loving parody not to be confused with the Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. series Friends.
FAVOURITE QUOTES ANSWERS
- HOW U DOIN’? (ALL EPISODES)
- I ROSS TAKE THEE RACHEL THE ONE WITH ROSS’S WEDDING)
- JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD! (THE ONE WITH THE BIRTH MOTHER)
- WE WERE ON A BREAK (MULTIPLE EPISODES)
- OH. MY. GOD! (MULTIPLE EPISODES – JANICE)
- PIVOT! (THE ONE WITH THE COP)
- I GOT OFF THE PLANE (THE LAST ONE)
- HE’S SO PRETTY I WANT TO CRY (THE ONE WITH THE RUMOR)
- OKAY, NO UTERUS, NO OPINION (THE ONE WITH PHOEBE’S UTERUS)
- SEVEN, SEVEN, SEVEN…..(THE ONE WITH PHOEBE’S UTERUS)
