Reviewed by Elana Luo
Coachella season—time to pick an outfit, buckle up, and head down to…Hollywood? Christopher Chianesi’s, PRINCE HARRY: LIVE! AT COACHELLA! is a theatrical musicalization of certain dramatic moments in the British royal’s memoir, “Spare“, released in January of this year. Set at Coachella musical festival, an annual affair that has spawned an array of online impressions of its artists, Chianesi plays the titular prince prancing around the stage singing about his woes and joys alike.
Chianesi is the show’s writer, composer, and performer. The show’s songs are fantastic, with catchy melodies and fabulously satiric lyrics. As the show’s performer, Chianesi does an admirable job of turning a blackbox theatre into a stage at Coachella music festival. It is understandably challenging to perform what is supposed to be a high-energy concert for a seated theatre audience, but Chianesi manages the audience’s experience well. He never breaks character, and works the crowd with drama and energy. He is helped by the set and technical elements, which add to the concert-like feel with its neon light strips and strobe-like light cues.
No doubt, this show is campy, absurd, and delightful. It’s certainly a ‘Fringe’ experience. Part musical, part concert, and part theatre, it’s an enjoyable 50 minutes of watching Chianesi showcase his talents as a writer and performer.
Copyright © 2023 Gia On The Move. All rights reserved.
Written and/or recorded exclusively for Gia On The Move. No part of this Gia On The Move publication, writing, video, or audio may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Copyright infringement is a crime. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Gia On The Move Permissions Coordinator”. For more information please review our reprints and permissions page.
