What I liked
Abundant humor, affable characters, catchy tunes (performed by a live band!), several laugh-out-loud moments that I won’t spoil. Pokes gentle fun at fantasy tropes without every feeling mean-spirited. Additional mirth from metatextual humor and light poking through the fourth wall. Good use of musical underscore for scenes in between numbers. Excellent costumes that exactly match the poster art, giving a strong sense of world-building.
Despite being an unapologetic romp, Pockets is careful to give us a sympathetic protagonist and antagonist, both with relatable wants and needs. This adds some depth to the fun.
What I didn't like
I had to strain to hear lyrics from the unmiced actors from time to time. (Audio at this particular venue is a Kobayashi Maru with no elegant solution.) Songs sometimes rely on pop music harmonic tropes that didn’t feel fully connected to the story — i.e. they’re sometimes pleasant as music but not emotionally specific to what’s going on. Lyrics though funny would have benefitted from perfect rhyme.
My overall impression
An entertaining musical romp through a sendup of fantasy stories, enriched by a strong interpersonal relationship story at its core.
