Finlay Mckillop in The Verge of Forever at The Other Palace, London. Picture: Holly Burton
The Verge of Forever continues at The Other Palace Studio, London until 20 August 2023.
Star rating: two stars ★ ★ ✩ ✩ ✩
By its very definition, the studio at The Other Palace is a somewhat unforgiving space for new talent. And so it proves here with the world premiere of The Verge of Forever, dubbed ‘The Drama School Audition Musical’. Dedicated apparently ‘to those who dare to be different’, this production puts under the musical microscope all the joys and the considerable pains young people are exposed to as they seek to make it in the acting world and the potentially damaging effect on relationships.
With music and lyrics by Olly Novello, produced by Louise Beard and directed by Gerry Tebbutt, this is a brave, yet flawed attempt to get under the skin of youthful ambition and lay it bare in musical format. In the role of Marie and making her professional debut, Scarlett Ayers makes a valiant vocal effort throughout, but her voice lacks the range and resonance to carry off what is a very demanding lead part. It’s ironic, given the subject of this musical, that she’ll hopefully learn much from her debut and be the better performer for it further down her career path. That said, when she sings ‘Crazy’, it’s a fine if somewhat manic solo moment.
In contrast, as Leo, Finlay McKillop, another recent drama school graduate, has the confidence and charisma of a seasoned performer. There’s more than a hint of an old variety hall turn about him and it’s no surprise that he was apparently nominated as Best Newcomer at the UK Pantomime Awards 2023.
Musically, the production is just too one-dimensional and as the ‘torch’ songs keep coming, their impact fades and so does the entertainment quotient. There are a few decent comic moments though, like when the couple perform the ‘Instagram Tango’, which basically does what it says on the tin.
In true showbusiness style, this production saves the best until last – the title song being a stirring, robust and rousing number almost reminiscent and worthy of a Bond theme song. In the event, it’s just too little, too late to save the evening.
Derek Smith
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