EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 2009 - REVIEW: CHAT! - A NEW BRITISH MUSICAL, George Square 2, August 11

The anonymity of an internet chat-room provides its members with the perfect environment to give vent to their emotions - their anger and their fears - and to lie to fellow members and even lie to themselves. It also provides the perfect story-board for a musical - especially when a writer approaches things with a fresh, young, witty eye and ear. And that is precisely what composer/librettist/lyricist Lee Freeman and co-librettist/lyricist Phil Cross have done. The result is a new highly enjoyable musical - Chat! - currently on show at George Square's Venue 2 at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The musical chat-room is made up of  a young couple whose relationship is falling apart who chat online totally oblivious of the fact that they are chatting to each other, a young mother who acts out a different persona online, a rather conniving chat room moderator, a movie star who pretends not to be a movie star and a teenage boy struggling to come to terms with being gay who finds it easier to "come out" online than in the real world. 

The book is full of fast paced humour and the songs are enjoyable - especially the show-stopping "Why Can't I Be Camp?" sung by teenager Darren. The character development is slightly cliché-ridden and one feels this show still has further to go before it is a completely satisfying piece - but as a vehicle for sheer entertainment it certainly pushes the right buttons.

Each member of the highly talented Take Note Theatre cast (Diana Chrisman, Adam Barlow, Philippa Buxton, Leon Kay, Adam Pritchard and Sophia Behn) gives a top class performance  while Adam Barlow's perfect combination of  superb comic observation and pathos as Darren steals the show. And Phil Cross's beautifully observed and highly energised direction  weaves the fabric of the show together into a total crowd pleaser.

****