Its easy to lie into a computer keyboard, isnt it? Its also frighteningly easy to tell the truth more of the truth that perhaps you should. This is the central idea behind Facebook: The Musical as the lives of its six characters are at first represented and then gradually changed by their obsessive use of Facebook. Horny teenager Justin creates a Facebook profile for Carmen, the perfect woman, in the hope that it will help him seduce Rose best voice in the choir Turner. Carmen touches increasingly more lives through her online existence but soon it becomes evident that Justin and Rose are loosing control.The musical is at its strongest when exploring how we construct and connect to identity through Facebook. Justin and Rose at opposite ends of the stage, wilfully and accidentally misleading each other through the Facebook Chat messages shown on a screen between them had the audience in stitches. Pity that they were also openly laughing at the clunky lyrics and the composers addition of the full cast in harmony to the finale of what felt like every song.Theres plenty meat on the Facebook bone for a good musical privacy, strangers, internet sex and even paedophilia but it felt as though the plot barely grazed the surface in its struggle to cover all the bases. As a whole, the night lacked unity and focus. Genuinely funny lines and fantastic ideas alike were swamped in trite rhymes and an over-convoluted plot the script is in need of a serious edit. Tafline Steens talent for sarcasm, Alasdair James McLaughlins comic timing and the singing voice of Catherine Millsom all contributed to the casts generous enthusiasm. But stranded unlit or without mikes at key moments, swamped by loud but unmemorable music, or given parts too high for them to sing even the strongest of casts begins to look ill. And who on Earth likes synthesised oboes?Those looking for songs about poking, adding friends, statuses and outrage at pointless redesigns will not be disappointed. On the way out the audience were even given I Poke U stickers. But only a small proportion of the two hours managed to make an impression beyond novelty value and believe me, if youre a Facebook user youll have heard all possible poke jokes before.
