Picture: Pamela Raith Photography
The Greatest Musical the World Has Ever Seen by Randy Thatcher continues at the Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance Two until 25 August 2024.
Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
Please bear in mind the final three words of this title! That being said, there is a lot of merit in this little show.
Matt Haughey is a successful musician with thousands of online followers enjoying his music across the world. And although he’s written this show, he’s chosen to play an anxiety-ridden young lad, Randy Thatcher, who is waiting to hear if his show has won a local musical contest.
To pass the time until the phone call, he conjures an imaginary audience in his dorm room at college and tells us about his musical. Thus, the show is almost entirely addressed directly to the audience.
The set is beautifully detailed and thoughtfully put together – there is clear evidence that Randy Thatcher is crazy about musicals and space. In fact, his entire musical is set on a planet he named “Cordor” and follows the story of his hero, Gazandy.
Accompanying himself on the keyboard, we are treated to some of the numbers from his Cordor musical, but we are luckily spared his 165-page detailed description of the planet (!). Every so often, he shifts to his open laptop for online chat with his mum. She is, of course, his number one fan.
The characterisation of Randy is as well detailed as the set and it is touching to see his confidence and enthusiasm come forward as the performance continues. Some nice use of puppetry and a little bit of magic in a duet between his hero and love interest give a sample of his show.
Musically, Ed Sheeran is a clear influence; some variety in the time signature, rhythm and key would be refreshing to hear, yet his characterisation makes us forgive all of that as we all root for Randy Thatcher. Travis Greisler directs.
Delightfully intimate.
Fiona Orr
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.