Rich Watkin’s one-man Disney musical parody Happily Ever Poofter is an ‘exquisite and energetic masterpiece’, and its three year international ‘tour de force’ comes to an end this Friday 24 Sep at the London Wondergound in Earl’s Court. With countless ★★★★★ reviews and several award wins, check out our round-up of reviews from all across the globe. Make sure you book for your chance to see the final ever performance of this ‘foul-mouthed, fairytale/Disney mash up’.
Happily Ever Poofter — The Untold Story of a Gay Fairytale Prince — started it’s life in 2019 at South London’s famous LGBT venue The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. From there it embarked on an international tour that took it to the Edinburgh Fringe, Sydney, Adelaide Fringe, and a three-week run at London’s King’s Head Theatre.
Writer/creator Rich Watkins gives a ‘completely captivating’ performance as Prince Henry, the only gay in a Kingdom Far Far Away. The show has gone on to win both the Standing Ovation Award for Comedy, and The OffWestEnd Award for Best New Musical (albeit by default!).
Once upon a time,
in a Kingdom Far Away,
There lived a dashing prince,
Who just happened to be gay.
He tried dating Cinderella,
Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White,
But deep down in his heart,
Something didn’t feel quite right…
Rich Watkins has cleverly re-imagined Disney classics with numbers such as “High Ho!“, “Oh, I’ve Just Come Out to the King!“, “Some Day My Prince Will Cum”, but this isn’t just a frivolous camp fairytale. Happily Ever Poofter ‘proves it has more to say’ with a story that is surprisingly deep and challenges the powers that be over lack of inclusion and diversity in the media we consume. With ‘skilful direction’ from Denholm Spurr, and ‘camp-tactic’ choreography from Simone Murphy, this production is a ‘triumph!’.
Happily Ever Poofter has its final ever performance on Friday 24 September at the London Wonderground, Earl’s Court at 10pm. Tickets are from £17.50. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
Review highlights
Rich Unwin: “An absolute triumph, bursting with wit and wisdom… It’s out and proud, and loudly unapologetic. Deft direction from Denholm Spurr and camp-tastic choreography from Simone Murphy add up to make a real treat to warm our rainbow hearts.”
London Pub Theatres — ★★★★★
Elisha Aylmore: “It’s side-splittingly funny and I left the theatre with an aching jaw from grinning almost non-stop throughout. Happily Ever Poofter has everything – singing, dancing, audience participation, puppetry, comedy, tragedy, sex, drugs and more!”
Stephen Vowles: “Great guffaws, chuckles and giggles galore was instantly felt by the audience who were prepared to have a good belly laugh and watch a master stand-up comedy technician at work.”
The OffWestEnd Awards 2020
The Offies
Best New Musical
Happily Ever Poofter
London Pub Theatre Awards 2020
London Pub Theatre Awards, Pub Theatre of the Year and Standing Ovation Awards
Best New Comedy
Happily Ever Poofter
Richard Lambert: “Sung to parodies of well-known favourites, with hilarious lyrics, this very clever inter-woven fairytale for adults touches all the emotions. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll rejoice – and you might even have a little sing-along yourself.”
Tema: “Your rainbow hearts will thank you for experiencing this exquisite and energetic masterpiece of a show that dares to bare it all in a tasteful, illuminating, and inclusive manner.”
Tamika Glouftsis: “Watkins is an outstanding performer oozing with captivating physicality. Watkins had the audience eating out of his hands as he evoked laughter, chants, boos and sighs at each emotional turn of the story.”
Janine Kitson: “Prepare yourself for an immersive experience as the whole audience empathizes with the predicament of a gay Prince who does not fancy Sleeping Beauty, Snow White or any of the other Disney Princesses. A must see show!”
The Spy In The Stalls — ★★★★
Phoebe Cole: “This foul-mouthed, fairytale/Disney mash up is a delightfully dirty. Loud, brash and camp as hell, but not without a sprinkling of heart, tenderness and passion. Happily Ever Poofter proves it has more to say than just boys, bars and bondage.”
Samantha Tipler: “Who doesn’t enjoy a good love story? Well this is an amazing love story, but wait…..there’s more. The audience is captivated in his presence, hanging on every word and reacting to every considered expression. Deliberately camp, he is in turn erotic, saucy and sexy as well as fun and cheeky.”
Rory Howes: “The team have done admirably with the limited space they have – colours and lights dance across the stage, large flags dangle beside a revolving door, and a bubble machine makes a brief but memorable appearance. Denholm Spurr’s direction steers into the skid, creating a world that sings to the audience.”
Emily Smith: “This is a one man show that is well written and performed. Classic Disney songs have been hilariously rewritten with titles such as “one day my prince will cum” and “I just come out to the king”
Anna Perry: “The movement is a bold solo celebration of queer dance forms, and the clever rearrangment of the auditorium into a thrust layout does Simone Murphey’s choreography every justice, providing a runway for every death drop and vogue to sweatily spill across the stage. “
Julian Eaves: “Key to the show is the contribution co-producer and director, Denholm Spurr. Spurr’s eyes and ears have continually honed the material into ever sleeker, slicker shape: the style here is very much stand-up cabaret… within a narrative context. He balances the two strands of artistry with nimble skill”
The Review Chap: “Watkins establishes a tremendous bond between himself and the audience and gives a performance that defines bravura and tour de force all rolled into one… a cult classic that will be around for many years to come!”
Stuart King: “The journey is a simply joyous concoction of risqué lyrics transposed onto some rather familiar sounding ditties and the romp proves a total blast from start to finish.”
Musical Theatre Musings — ★★★★
Sarah McPartlan: “The piece is well written with plenty of Disney references, a huge amount of queer references but best of all lots of fist pumping moments screaming for equality. Ultimately if Disney won’t do a gay love story….it’s about time someone did.”
Dress Circle Reviews — ★★★★
Dress Circle Reviews: “A superb actor with spot on comic timing. Each character he plays is different and distinct and he commands the audiences attention from the start and keeps them engaged throughout. He is bold, loud and completely captivating.”
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