Fringe hit I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical goes down a storm in Newbury
I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical
at The Corn Exchange
on Thursday, August 29
Review by ROBIN STRAPP
FOLLOWING a highly successful run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe Alexander S Bermange’s I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical took to the Corn Exchange stage – and what a treat was in store.
If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to appear in a musical then this revue reveals all there is to know about the people who strive to shine on both sides of the curtain.
Centre stage is a huge gold glittering star, a dress rail of colourful costumes and on stage right the musical director Bermange providing the superb accompaniment.
The music reflects many of the West End scores with soaring ballads and big upbeat numbers and the witty lyrics are a sheer delight.
The extremely talented cast of four – Luke Harley, Sev Keoshgerian, Jessi O’Donnell and Julie Yammanee – perform with total commitment, energy and zest as they reveal the stories of how to survive in the theatre. Their singing and harmonies are outstanding and they effortlessly create characters with aplomb.
So we enter the tireless, often disappointing world of auditions and the endless performance showcases.
There is a hilarious number Superfan where the caped heroes are present and even an appearance of the phantom of the opera and the red flag from Les Misérables.
The cast talk about the need “to get the audience on your side”, but also have a go at those members who turn up late, eat sweets noisily and disturb others to get to the toilet.
The plight of the understudy comes under the spotlight as hopes to make a stage appearance are shattered when the star has finally turned up.
By contrast the power of the Diva is deliciously portrayed.
The struggles of an actor trying to perform while having flu is so funny, as is the embarrassment of perfecting the stage kiss and making it look realistic.
Mathew Park’s slick direction and choreography is impressive and as the cast finally sing “it’s music making magic – it’s magic making me” it leaves you wanting more.
And yes, we did get an encore.
A fabulous evening’s entertainment.
