Picture: Robbie McFadzean/Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Edges continues at the Assembly Rooms – Music Hall until 25 August 2023.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
I hope I’m correct in presuming that one of the main reasons the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland chose Edges, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s song cycle, was to show off the talents of not just the four performers on stage but also to show off the talent of musical directors; Gail Tay and her band affiliates were playing when I saw the show. Well then, on this level it was a good choice.
The score is unmistakeably the driving force of the production and Tay does a tremendous job as she guides the band and performers through the intricacies of the music. Unlike a conventional musical with spoken word and big dance routines, the show relies solely on the music and the capabilities of the four artists and how they embrace that format. I’m delighted to say Sophia Holmes, Claire Rob, Taylor Fristina and, on the day I saw the show, Grace Christina Stech (stepping in at the last minute to cover for Lauren Troy) did an admirable job.
As we are taken through the vagaries of adolescence, we discover how they cope with life, the intimacies of friendship, their worries and stresses handling relationships and where eventually their choices and ultimate decisions will take them.
These four young performers totally succeed in their endeavours, not only do they entertain us but they invite each and everyone in the audience to witness their individuality and their tremendous talents; like their characters, grabbing life by the horns, the world is their oyster and it’s all there for the taking.
Flo White
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