Hamlet - The Musical, Richmond Theatre Hamlet - The Musical ripped up the play and brought the house down at Richmond Theatre on Tuesday night.

Alas, if Hamlet is part your A-level syllabus it may not help you get a closer understanding of the bard. You could hang the plot on what’s left of poor Yorick, but lets not beat about the bush, this is a cracker.

Greater than the sum of it’s parts this musical comedy works on many levels. Catchy tunes come thick and fast. The lyrics may not be iambic pentameter but who cares, they’re hilarious. This is a very energetic show, a mélange of Monty Python, Cabaret, and a touch of burlesque thrown in. It’s a slapstick, funny romp that packs a heck of punch.

Particular stand out moments are the opening song, Is It Because We’re Danish?, complete with a very silly dance, and Where Else, Elsinore?

The play within a play, The Murder of Gonzago, was a witty classical medley. And the showstopper, To Be or Not to Be, a pop classic with bells on.

High praise must be given to the writers Alex Silverman, a composer, Tim Knapman, playwright and lyricist and Edward Jaspers an artistic director. The idea for the musical sprung from the Edinburgh fringe festival ten years ago and has been developed with producer Eleanor Lloyd. Hamlet, the singing Dane made it back to Edinburgh last summer to great acclaim.

The cast were tremendous and worked their socks off. Jack Shalloo was the best hip hop Hamlet you could wish for. Mark Inscoe complete with a burgeoning cod piece was hilarious as Claudius. Virge Gilchrist beguiled as Gertrude and had shades of Magenta from Rocky Horror. Gabriel Vick had the audience in stitches as Laertes and Jess Robinson charmed as Ophelia, rather reminiscent of a young Kate Bush. The choreography, the towering set and note perfect band also shone. And what would Mr Will Shakespeare think of this surreal extravaganza? After rolling in his grave a couple of hundred times with shock, he’d love it! To go or not to go? Go! This is a West End smash if ever there was one! Until May 28 Liz Colbert