A parody musical described as The Rocky Horror Show meets The Starlight Express for huns? Sign us up. Based on the popular economics-themed board game known for tearing families apart, The Winner Rolls it All by Staunch Theatre promises a story of betrayal, hilarity, Abba and Gemma Collins’ quotes. And it certainly delivered.
The show mixes the gameplay of Monopoly with drama, messy relationships and laugh-out-loud humour as you follow the story of four silver tokens as they make their way around the board.
Each board game character has been cleverly humanised and given hilarious, camp and over-the-top personalities to match their roles within the game. The Iron, Racecar, Thimble and Wheelbarrow (all game pieces from the original Monopoly game) are decked out in an array of silver clothing to represent the figures that move around the board. Two over-the-top Cockney characters dressed in green and red suits play the hysterical ‘House’ and ‘Hotel’, and Madame Moneybags (based on Monopoly’s Rich Uncle Pennybags) plays the capitalist tyrant set to take all the money for herself.
It wouldn’t be a parody based on the much-loved family board game without the inclusion of ‘Chance’ and ‘Community Chest’ – two characters with power, sass and high-spirited fun. And finally the Jailer, appropriately named Fernando (another nod to the Swedish pop group), whose one-liners and desperate desire to be noticed had the whole audience roaring with laughter.
We were instantly drawn in by a love story between the Iron and the Racecar (we know, it sounds crazy) who constantly throw innuendos, character-related puns and sexy side eyes at one another throughout the performance. As the game continues, their story develops into one of greed, lust and forgiveness – themes we weren’t ever expecting to come out of a parody musical. Other relationships blossom and become apparent throughout the story that make you laugh and even want to cry at points. But we won’t give too much away.
One Abba number after another (with a sprinkling of Elvis) kept us dancing in our seats and singing under our breath as the cast blew the audience away with various parody renditions of ‘Money Money Money’, ‘Super Trouper’, ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’, and so much more. The show is definitely geared towards millennials and the older Gen Z audience, packed with pop culture references ranging from Gemma Collins’ quotes and nods to Come Dine With Me to Camp Rock dance moves and Eastenders drama.
Judging by the sold-out Saturday crowd and the number of audience members dancing in their seats, it’s safe to say The Winner Rolls It All deserved its time in the spotlight. It’s an absolute must-see the next time it rolls around.
By Josie May
