Eurobeat, Ballina Players’ wickedly funny sendup of the Eurovision Song Contest, opens this Friday night.
An essential part of the Eurobeat experience is audience participation. Patrons will find themselves in a ‘real’ Eurovision contest in Sarajevo. They will be assigned a country on arrival. Then they will cheer patriotically and vote enthusiastically to decide a victor from the twelve countries performing.
Throw yourself into the silly spirit of the show and it will be impossible not to enjoy the result.
At the centre of the show are the songs, which are clever parodies of familiar styles of Eurovision acts and of national foibles. They are a mix of unlikely music, overstated themes, strange lyrics, odd choreography and amusing overacting.
One highlight is AVLA from Sweden, bearing a slight resemblance to another Swedish group who are national icons and were winners of the Eurovision title long ago. AVLA ooze charm with their winning smiles, exaggerated dance moves and simplistic lyrics. Ironically they sing The Same Old Song.
AVLA is up against such countries as Russia. The ‘New Kids on the Eastern Block’ are the KG Boiz, a boy band whose sinister appearance belies the touching lyrics of their entry, Ice Queen.
Eurobeat is a very clever show aimed at the audience’s sense of the ridiculous and full of theatrical fun and musical mayhem. It will appeal equally to those who love Eurovision and those who hate it.
Written by Craig Christie and Andrew Paterson, Eurobeat will be staged at the Players Theatre from November 15 to December 7 with evening performances at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm.
Tickets are available at Just Funkin Music, 124 River Street, phone 6686 2440.
