As a musical theatre nerd, I knew I could not miss this one! From the outset, the premise of this show had me hooked. FLOP is a deep dive into the biggest Flops in musical theatre history. From shows that closed days after opening, to those who sustained somewhat of a run but were then erased from the internet, Arthur approaches his show as a celebration of the passionate artists on board each one. 

From the outset, his venue in The Garden of Unearthly Delights gives the vibes of a hidden jazz bar you’d find in NYC. Arthur sits at the keyboard, setting the preshow intrigue. He then takes the audience through an educational and comedic journey through musical theatre history, attempting to find and sing a hit from each flopped show. His boyish allure addressed the audience personally, effectively blurring the line between seats and stage. The subtle (and overt) roasting of the familiar Grease 2 and Cats films were excellent choices to further appeal to audience familiarity. 

Arthur is an up and coming performer you will have wished you got to see when he was just beginning (eg. now!!). Vocally, he nailed his diverse setlist, making the audience question why these hits flopped in the first place! 

Flipping the narrative to conclude with a song from ‘The Producers,’ (initially a controversial piece of theatre but became a hit) was a clever way to cement the celebration of those involved in theatre production and redefine what it actually means to FLOP. 

Thespian or not, you’ll be utterly delighted! A standout of the Fringe for me this season! We need a part two!