Rupert Parker goes underground in Tottenham Court Road for a unique musical experience
Oscar at the Crown is a new immersive musical, with its origins in New York, then a stint at the Edinburgh Fringe before coming to London’s Tottenham Court Road. They call it a Dystopian Disco Fever Dream because of its audacious blend of history, pop culture, and gay showmanship.
Wandering around Tottenham Court Road, the theatre is nowhere to be seen. Finally I discover a discrete roped-off entrance leading downstairs into a post-apocalyptic nightclub. The venue is an underground bunker, pulsating with neon lights, mirrored walls, and thumping electronic beats.
TV screens flicker with clips from The OC and news reports of environmental disasters, setting the tone for a world where reality TV and Oscar Wilde’s legacy intertwine. As the performers arrive in our midst, we’re part of a dance party, encouraged to move, mingle, and immerse ourselves in the chaos.
The musical presents a dystopian future where a group of outcasts, hiding from a fascist regime, find solace in the teachings of Oscar Wilde and the drama of reality TV. Wilde, portrayed with flamboyant energy by Mark Mauriello, becomes a symbol of resistance and self-expression. The plot alternates between recounting Wilde’s life and the group’s worship of reality TV icons.
Being a musical, the score is a high-octane blend of synth-pop and Broadway, with tracks that wouldn’t feel out of place in a contemporary nightclub. It’s loud, overpowering and very much in your face. However sometimes I struggle to hear the words, as they’re drowned out by the insistent beats.
Mark Mauriello’s portrayal of Wilde is both magnetic and manic, capturing the playwright’s wit and flamboyance. Elizabeth Chalmers delivers a standout performance as Constance Wilde, offering a poignant counterbalance to the show’s frenetic energy. Director Shira Milikowsky orchestrates the chaos with a deft hand, ensuring that the audience remains engaged, always moving to catch the action.
The choreography is tight, the energy unrelenting, and the atmosphere electric.
The ensemble, clad in Andrew Barret Cox’s avant-garde costumes, dances and sings with infectious enthusiasm, embodying the show’s spirit of radical self-expression. The music remains one of the show’s strongest assets, driving the narrative and energizing the audience.
Oscar at the Crown is not a conventional musical, nor does it aspire to be. It’s a bold experiment in immersive theatre, blending history, pop culture, and queer identity into a singular experience. While it may not resonate with everyone, those open to its unique approach will find themselves swept up in its downright exuberance. It’s certainly a unique experience, a fun packed 90 minutes that you won’t forget easily.
Factbox
Oscar at the Crown
213-215 Tottenham Court Rd, London W1T 7PS
Now booking until 31st August 2025
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