You’re either a super “Friends” fan or not. Do you yell “Pivot!” when you move around any furniture? Have you ever wished about finding your lobster? Or do you never get tired of watching the ’90s sitcom over and over again? This show will be there for you!
The national tour of “Friends! The Musical Parody” just made its debut in Chicago and if you love ‘Friends’ more than anyone, you won’t get enough of the inside jokes and references jam-packed in this musical. Perfect for a night out with friends, this wacky comedy pokes fun of the classic show because, let’s face it—”Friends” has its flaws (and we still love it anyway).
Just like the TV series, we start when everyone meets Rachel (Sami Griffith) as a runaway bride with Griffith nailing down Jennifer Aniston’s voice. Honestly, the entire cast doesn’t delay to pick up on the characters’ notable mannerisms, whether it’s Phoebe (Madison Fuller)’s “Oh no” (my personal favorite of the night!) or Joey’s (Domenic Servidio) famous catchphrase, “How you doin’?”
The real challenge is tackling down 10 seasons of “Friends” in a two-hour parody. There’s a lot to cover and these “Friends” have to sing it too! You won’t mind that the timeline jumbles around a bit—it’s a parody, after all. But you’ll get the best moments of the series while pointing out all the Easter eggs and a few hilarious jabs along the way. “495 Grove Street – How Can We Afford This Place?” is a great example. You know you’re an adult when you realize that Monica and Rachel’s New York apartment is so unrealistic! But there are still sweet moments recreated through songs like Rachel and Ross’s “Will They or Won’t They?” and “Could I BE Anymore…in Love with You” obviously coming from Chandler.
Each cast member knows exactly how to bring their own wacky character to the stage. You have Tyler Fromson turning up the notch on Ross’ downward spiral from his divorces to the “My sandwich” issue! Then there’s Fuller as Phoebe who brings the quirky spirit we love and Servidio makes us feel sorry for poor Joey (but doesn’t make us stop laughing either). Plus, there’s Aaron C. Rutherford bringing us the sarcastic Chandler, plus many other characters we’ve loved on the show. (I don’t want to give away who he plays but I’ll leave one hint for you: Oh. My. God!)
What’s great about the show is that there’s a laid-back atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re at home with a glass of wine. The show comes with a simple set design—but there’s still the famous purple door! Besides, the inside jokes are what really make the show. Trust me, the glorious overload of references are not for people who have only caught a few reruns here and there.
So if you have an ultimate “Friends” fan in mind, invite them along to a night downtown as you enjoy all the nostalgic feels of your favorite TV gang.
If you go
Runs through March 3
Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago
Tickets start at $35
Recommended for ages 18 and older
Find more information at broadwayinchicago.com.
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