MUSE: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical – Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Picture: Russ Rowland

MUSE: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical continues at the Cowbarn at Underbelly, Bristo Square until 30 August 2026.

Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩

This company have come over from America with a sweet little Shakespeare ‘what if’ exercise.

The first is that Shakespeare’s publisher, Folios Unlimited, will publish one of his plays. He has to choose which one.  Several characters from Shakespearean plays arrive to help him choose. This takes us into familiar territory – the ‘pick me’ convention that works so well for the cast of SIX, for example.

The second what if applies to Juliet: Shakespeare believes that Juliet is too young to be told that Romeo dies. Some of the characters disagree though!

There are some enjoyable songs throughout and some pleasant singing voices. Clarity of the lyrics would benefit from sounding consonants more clearly, particularly ‘t’ and ‘d’. Juliet’s solo number is very good indeed.

Wardrobe is doing a great job with garments that clearly identify the characters: Puck is in a glittering wig with horns, Portia in a richly coloured gown, Cleopatra in a revealing gold outfit. The Macbeths are there in red and black; there is another performer in red and black alongside them, but it isn’t clear who they are. King Lear is silvery with a remarkable sword. Juliet is a vision in a pale floral gown, and to complete the line-up, Beatrice wears her long hair down and is in a country-styled outfit.

The book is somewhat thin due to the lack of a plot other than which play should be published. If it can be found, the work of the Reduced Shakespeare Company might be helpful in suggesting how to develop this piece further. Sharpening up the wit would be very worthwhile.

Good fun and a chorus line!

Fiona Orr