It’s not often I go to see a show and immediately think this could be the next big thing – but ‘Fanny’ – a new riotous comedy by Calum Finlay at the King’s Head Theatre has ‘West End Transfer’ written all over it.
Well, not literally – that would be rather presumptuous but all I can say is move over mincemeat, this play does not go wrong and say hello to the best new farce we’ve had in a while!
German composer Fanny Mendelssohn wrote some of the biggest musical compositions of her time – but she didn’t get the credit for it. Why? Because she was a woman and women in the 1800’s had only one career prospect – being a wife. So, Fanny’s brother Felix (also a composer) published her work under his name. It’s a sad but all too common story of women fighting for the right to be heard.
Felix returns from England where he was given an audience with the Queen who adored his music. Her favourite piece, ‘Italien’, was actually one of Fanny’s but Felix takes the credit for it anyway. Fanny is set to be betrothed to Wilhelm who has returned from Italy after fives years abroad.
Fanny’s sister Rebecka is desperate to escape the chains of womanhood and be set free from her expectant ties and so when brother Paul let’s slip that the royal family were in fact a fan of Fanny’s music and not Felix’s, she sends Fanny to England to claim her rightful place in history.
Following its acclaimed world premiere at The Watermill Theatre in 2024, Mischief Theatre co-founder Charlie Russell, reprises her role as ‘Fanny’ and commands the stage with the most hilarious performance showing the inner workings of a composers mind.
Daniel Abbott (Groan Ups, Mischief UK Tour; Linck & Mülhahn, Hampstead Theatre; RSC’s Henriad) as ‘Felix’, is adorable with puppy dog eyes and a real feeling of love for his sister (up until a point where she threatens his success).
Kim Ismay (Wicked, West End and UK Tour; Anne Boleyn the Musical, Hever Castle, Elf The Musical, Dominion Theatre) is a sensation as ‘Lea’. Her performance is comedy gold, playing several characters to pure perfection.
Jeremy Lloyd (The Play That Goes Wrong, West End and Broadway; Peter Pan Goes Wrong, West End, Broadway and BBC1) as ‘Paul’ is the least intelligent of all the siblings, somewhat of a pushover until he has enough and snaps back at his mother.
Danielle Phillips, recently seen in The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe, plays ‘Rebecka’ and is equally splendid as the neurotic sister who is desperate to escape the ties of expectation.
Riad Richie (Anna Karenina, Chichester Festival Theatre; Of Mice and Men, Birmingham Rep; RSC’s The Whip) completes the cast as ‘Wilhelm’ – Fannys betrothed lover with a love of speaking in rhyme, which irritates everyone except for Fanny. But will Fanny marry the man besotted with her or just use him to get her own way?
Fanny has real potential to create a splash on the London theatre scene. If you wish you were one of those people who can say “I saw Operation Mincemeat in a 50 seat theatre before it became huge” then get yourself to the Kings Head Theatre for a shimmering glimpse of a Fanny that could become more popular than Bonnie Blue at a university campus.
★★★★★
West End Wilma
Fanny is playing at the King’s Head Theatre until 15 November 2025.
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