AS six familiar New Yorkers danced around a sofa to the opening number of Friendsical, I thought: 'This could be delightfully quirky or it could be awful.'

It didn't take long for the laugh-out-loud moments to come rolling in. OH. MY. GAAAAWD, as Janice (who makes a hilarious appearance in a highlight song-and-dance number) would bawl. This is a funny show!

Friendsical (see what they did there?) is an affectionate parody musical inspired by one of the most popular TV shows of all time. An Edinburgh Festival hit, it crams all 10 seasons and 236 episodes of the beloved US comedy into two glorious hours of nostalgic fun. With a series of kooky songs - including (He's Her) Lobster and You're Over Me, When Were You Under Me? - it pretty much ticks every box for the fans. Pivot! Seven! How you doin? It's all there.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: All the memorable scenes are there All the memorable scenes are there (Image: submitted)

It's cleverly done, with a sparkling script balancing parody with respect for the original writing. The timeframe leaps about, but just go with it and wallow in the favourite moments from a decade of Friends, in what feels like an episode in itself. Centred around the on-again-off-again Ross and Rachel romance, the action takes in memorable scenes and killer one-liners. Remember the one where Ross tries to get everyone out of the apartment for his dinosaur convention? The one where the girls hang out in wedding dresses? The one where they don't know that we know that they know? The one where they were on a break? It's all there.

It is the excellent cast that really makes this show. Each of the six leads - Nelson Bettencourt as Ross, Sarah Michelle-Kelly as Monica, Tim Edwards as Chandler, Sario Solomon as Joey, Amelia Kinu Muus as Rachel and Ally Retberg as Phoebe - captured their characters beautifully, with all the comic ticks that have become so familiar. Ross's anger issues (and leather pants), Joey's confusion (and Thanksgiving pants), Monica's neurosis, Chandler's scene-stealing sarcasm, Rachel's scene-stealing hair (her slow motion sex appeal was a nicely nuanced ongoing joke) and Phoebe's kooky charm.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The excellent cast The excellent cast (Image: Submitted)

There were some nice touches, not least Gunther (Ashley Cavender) stealing the spotlight with his own Central Perk dance routine, a jaw-droppingly brilliant interpretation of Hot Xerox Girl, and a hilarious appearance by Ross's fiancee Emily (Olivia Williamson). Could she BE any more British?

Celebrity guest Joanne Clifton was a hoot. The former Strictly Come Dancing champ is a gifted comic actress and ran through an impressive repertoire of characters from the show - culminating with a fabulously funny turn as 'Richard’s Moustache', complete with Magnum P.I Hawaiian shirt...

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Joanne Clifton was a hilarious celebrity guestJoanne Clifton was a hilarious celebrity guest (Image: submitted)

It's a show that requires a bit more audience participation - I wanted to shout "Transponster!" when Chandler tried to explain his job and a brief appearance by Mr Heckles fell a bit flat - but nonetheless last night's Bradford audience loved it. Great fun - and a must-see for Friends fans.

* Runs at St George's Hall at 2.30pm today and the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, from September 23-25.