08 August 2016 (released)
13 August 2016
'Marco Polo: An Untold Love Story' is the musical dramatisation of a love story between Marco Polo and Pricess Kogajin, the daughter of Kublai Khan created by Rogelio Saldo Chua. This could have been epic. However despite strong performances from much of the cast, it seemed to be parody of every musical cliché you can imagine. There’s a little Yul Brenner, Monty Python, Pocahontas and a giant fuzzy camel and who can forget the cracker of a song ‘What do I do with Chinese noodles”?
I am a champion of international casting especially in this post-Brexit limbo but the occasional strong accent and rushed speech added to the murkiness of the storyline. The quips from the ensemble cast, although committed, seem disjointed and as if they were acting in another play. Despite appealing elements, much of the show seemed to lack clear direction and stage-craft. Also, due to a sound imbalance the night I went, any of the notes sung in the lower register disappeared when the backing track became particularly rousing. Many of these issues could easily be resolved.
The nice moments that I was so longing for were cut short by random goings on that completely pulled focus. The was a father and daughter moment, ruined by four people marching on, regaling us with a little dance routine that is worthy of 'The Producers'. I literally didn’t know where to look. At one point, Marco Polo unveiled his body wearing nothing but an oversized loincloth, which garnered stifled laughs. That was the meant to be the sexy bit, instead seem to inadvertently hark to the adult baby in Jerry Springer the Opera. I can’t help but think, just like in 'The Producers', this wasn’t meant to be funny.
I wanted so very much to glean as many good moments as there's no doubt it’s heart was in the right place. Lawrence Olsworth-Peter as Marco Polo and Stephanie Reese as Princess Kogajin gave strong performances and there were some stand out vocals from Aidan Bradley as Kublai Khan and particularly Nicholas Lupu as Lord Khogata which gave it some credibility. Veteran Filipino actor Chinggoy Alonso provides good-natured charisma and more than a little class to the proceedings.
It is such a kitsch oddity, that I would say it was worth seeing regardless, if you were ok with the £ 40-80 price tag. Maybe a trick was missed. A few tweaks and some comedy know how could render this confusing musical into a genuinely good parody.
