Picture: Ben Wilkin
A Jaffa Cake Musical continues at the Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance Two until 26 August 2024.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Oh, Gigglemug – thank you! This is such a fine example of a Fringe comedy musical and fully deserved its full house.
Most folk across Britain will remember the debate surrounding the beloved Jaffa Cake – is it a cake or is it a biscuit? This whimsical argument became rather serious once the laws on VAT (Value Added Tax) were being introduced for certain biscuits. The taxman classed Jaffa Cakes as biscuits, leading to an actual court battle.
Written by Sam Cochrane, this show has no fewer than 30 songs packed in. Many of these are clearly related to a few of the West End crowd favourites as well as the earlier G&S wit. It comes as a bit of a surprise how often repeating ‘Cake or Biscuit’ can be acceptable or just plain silly fun!
Cochrane has cast himself as a newly-qualified lawyer, Kevin, who is somewhat disappointed to be assigned defending the Jaffa Cake until he realises he will be facing the attractive Katherine (Sabrina Messer). If the show wants to move forward, it would be good if the sub-plot between this pair were developed, especially if the aspirations of their respective families about their careers were to be revealed bit by bit.
In Jake, the ‘Jaffa Cake Man’ we have a lovely wee portrayal from Harry Miller, a direct opposite from ‘Tax Man’ (Katie Pritchard) who wrings every twist of ‘baddie-ness’ with great timing. Alex Prescot on the keyboards does a great job of welcoming the audience in and is a suitably involved ‘Judge’.
There is a feeling of ‘summer panto’ that could maybe be taken a bit further – ‘The Fork Song’ is crying out for audience participation!
Staging is great – sticking to the spectrum of Jaffa Cakes themselves, both costumes and the set are golden, orange and brown (as if you might forget what the show is!). Great direction from Ali James makes this a great treat in every way possible.
Fiona Orr
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