Fans of TV hit 'Friends' will enjoy musical currently visiting Cork Opera House

Friends fanatics across Cork are encouraged to attend Cork Opera House’s latest parody musical before the final curtain comes down this weekend.

If you enjoy a blend of panto-inspired comedy, intertwined with the lives of the famed Friends cast, Friends The Musical Parody might just be the perfect evening out for you.

I's clear to see that a lot of time and energy has been put into incorporating some of the hit television show’s most iconic moments.

From Monica’s distinct ‘I KNOW’ to Ross’ comedic ‘PIVOT’, it appears the creative minds behind this production added as many nods to the original script as copyright laws would allow.

WIG

The show, featuring Eva Hope as Rachel – whose wig, curated by Craig Forrest Thomas, deserves its own shout out – Enzo Benvenuti as Ross, Alicia Belgrade as Monica, Daniel Parkinson as Chandler, Ronnie Burden as Joey, and Amelia Atherton as Phoebe – includes a jam-packed programme of entertainment, with set designs that will tug on the nostalgic heartstrings.

While there are some twists and turns in the show that are not originally included in the 1990s sitcom, some sacred things remain untouched, including the trademark Friends purple door and the Central Perk coffee house, which are focal points in many of the scenes.

The production opens with a crowd-warming exercise, seeing Edward Leigh, who also plays Gunther, deliver a short but sweet pop quiz before the cast bursts into song, playfully criticising the cost of rent in New York City, and how it would be virtually impossible to rent Monica’s apartment in your early 20s.

While some famous songs and scenes, such as Phoebe’s ‘Smelly Cat’, are reimagined, the cast brings a new life and energy to the show, effortlessly enjoying their time on stage as much as the audience is enjoying revisiting one of modern television's most favoured friend groups.

The production, which has a running time of two hours and 15 minutes – inclusive of a short intermission – will have its closing night in Cork this Saturday.

Tickets for the show are priced from €39 and are available for purchase at https://www.corkoperahouse.ie/