Faking Bad (musical)
Faking Bad | |
---|---|
The Unauthorised 'Breaking Bad' Parody Methsical | |
Music | Rob Gathercole |
Lyrics | Rob Gathercole |
Book | Rob Gathercole |
Setting | Albuquerque, New Mexico 2008–10 |
Basis | Breaking Bad by Vince Gilligan |
Premiere | October 14, 2018: Theater N16, London, England |
Productions | 2018 London 2023 London |
Faking Bad: The Unauthorized 'Breaking Bad' Parody Methsical[1] (previously known as Say My Name!) is a 2018 parody musical with music, lyrics and book by Rob Gathercole based on AMC's Breaking Bad created by Vince Gilligan. The story shows down-on-his-luck father and chemistry teacher, Walter White's descent into the world of drug dealing as he becomes the feared druglord "Heisenberg". The musical condenses the entire plot of Breaking Bad down to approximately 90 minutes with a heightened sense of camp and satire. Production began in 2018 when Gathercole created a Kickstarter to help fund the project and raised £1,877 of the £1,500 goal.
The production was met with generally positive reviews with most reviewers commenting on Gathercole's writing.
Synopsis
Season 1
In the middle of the desert, awaiting his arrest,
Season 2
A few weeks later Walt and Jesse are kidnapped by their psychotic distributor,
Season 3
A mariachi band explains the entirety of the third season. Walt gets a new lab partner,
Season 4
Walt's family visits Hank for dinner and Hank reveals he has started a mineral collection, much to the dismay of the other characters. (Minerals #1) At the dinner, Walt implies that Heisenberg may still be alive when Hank tells him they suspect Gale. Skyler gets mad at Walt and implies he is scared and wants to get caught. Enraged, Walt egotistically tells her that he should not fear danger but that he has so much power others should fear him instead. (Danger) Gus kills all the higher-ups of the Mexican cartel and plans on visiting Hector to kill him too. (Don't Be a Chicken [Reprise 1]) As the ensemble begins singing about Walt giving up, Walt shuts them up and tells them that Walter White is dead and to refer to him as Heisenberg from now on. (The Ballad of Walter White [Reprise 2]) Walt meets with Hector and they create a plan to kill Gus. Hector will go to the DEA forcing Gus to investigate. When Gus visits Hector he will use his bell to set off a bomb strapped to the wheelchair, killing Gus and Hector in the process. (The Chicken Man) Their plan goes exactly as expected and Gus is killed. Walt and Jesse celebrate their victory over Gus. (Don't Be a Chicken [Reprise 2])
Season 5A
Walt and Jesse convince one of Gus' men,
Season 5B
At Walt's house, Hank accidentally discovers Walt is Heisenberg when he reads a book Walt received from Gale. Hank confronts Walt over this but Walt completely denies his allegations. He says that his cancer has returned meaning Hank wouldn't even have someone to catch if he pursued him. Hank doesn't care and still chooses to pursue this lead. (Hank and Walt) Hank brings Jesse in for investigation but Jesse refuses to talk. Hank threatens to begin singing about minerals which causes Jesse to confess immediately. (Minerals #2) Hank tricks Walt into going to the desert where he can arrest him but the neo-Nazi group Walt used to kill Gus' men follow him out. Walt begs for
Roles and principal cast
Theater N16 (2018) | Turbine Theater (2023) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Character | Actor[2] | Character | Actor[3] | |
Walter White | Matt Tweddle | Walter White | Richard Costello | |
Lydia Rodarte-Quayle
|
Olivia Warren | Skyler/Gus/Others | Natalie Winsor | |
Gustavo Fring
|
Edward Hole | Gretchen /Others
|
Nikki Biddington | |
Hank Schrader/Others | Scott Brooks | Saul/Hank/Others | Rob Gathercole | |
Jesse Pinkman/Gretchen Schwartz | Rebecca Levy | |||
Saul Goodman/Others | Rob Gathercole |
Musical numbers
Act I
|
Act II
|
Keys
- ‡ Cast Recording Only
Recordings
A cast recording was released on streaming platforms on 2 November 2019[4] and also as a physical release for sale at the official Breaking Bad Store in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[5] The cast recording contained two extra songs, a song detailing the events of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and another song of Hank listing various names with the initials W.W.
Reception
Critical reception
In its first showing in London, Say My Name was met with generally positive reviews with most reviewers commenting on the humor of Gathercole's writing. Lani Calvert of musicaltheatrereview.com called it "an excellent addition to London’s Fringe theatre scene"
References
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "Photos: First Look at FAKING BAD Parody Musical at the Turbine Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
- ^ "Say My Name! - The Unauthorised 'Breaking Bad' Parody Musical (Original Cast Recording), by Original Cast". Rob Gathercole. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ "Introducing the cast of Faking Bad!". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-10-25.
- ^ "SAY MY NAME!". rob-gathercole. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Calvert, Lani (31 October 2018). "Musical Theatre Review". Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ^ "Say My Name! – The Unauthorised 'Breaking Bad' Parody Musical". LondonTheatre1. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
- ^ "Say My Name: The Unauthorised Breaking Bad Musical Review". Musical Theatre Musings. 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
- ^ "Say My Name - Theatre N16, London". northwestend.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
- ^ Finch, Alex (2018-10-16). "Live Review: Say My Name". Comedy To Watch. Retrieved 2022-06-21.