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.
****
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Robert Gould is a graduate of the University of Wales, Swansea, a former teacher, a writer of history books for schools (The French Revolution and European Nationalism, 1848-71) and the librettist and lyricist of a number of musicals. Collaborating with composer Ty Kroll, he has written the book and lyrics for the musicals, Lovers, Alone and Vocalize!. Concerts of songs from Lovers and Vocalize! were presented at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (in March 2002 and April 2003) and Alone received its world premiere staging in Madison, Wisconsin in April 2003. He has co-written the book & lyrics for the musical Nova (with composer, Tristan Bons) and The Dying Game, a musical that speaks for the victims of HIV/AIDS in Africa (with music by Filip von Uexkull, Ty Kroll & Tristan Bons) - which received a showcase production at the Greenwich Musical Futures season in 2005. He is currently developing 3 musicals - Elephant Juice and My Land?s Shore with Christopher J. Orton and After The Turn with Tim Jones.
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Past Articles by This Author:
- OLIVIERS 2012: Did MATILDA Deserve All Those Awards?
- Michael Rees Is 2012 Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer Of The Year
- Slovick, O'Reilly & Stott to Perform Live At Dress Circle Showcase Of Debut Album SOMEWHERE IN MY MIND - THE SONGS OF JOE STERLING, April 21
- 2012 Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer Of the Year Finalists Announced
- Brunger, Cleary, Passey, Miller and Sterling to feature in SimG Productions' EASTER WITH THE COMPOSERS
- West End Stars GIGGIN4GOOD at Actors' Church, Covent Garden, Feb 5
- Jonathan Eio Presents LOVE LOVE LOVE With Jodie Jacobs & Dan Clews At The Pheasantry, Feb 5
- SUMMER WITH JACK SHALLOO Plays Battersea Barge, August 28
- SUMMER WITH JACK SHALLOO Plays Battersea Barge, August 28
- The Stephen Sondheim Society Launches New Website
- Leanne Masterton Announces Jerry Herman Birthday Cabaret, Jermyn Street, July 10
- Leanne Masterton Announces Jerry Herman Birthday Cabaret, Jermyn Street, July 10
- BWW Reviews: THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT - THE SMELL OF THE CROWD, Finborough Theatre, June 22, 2011
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