Hello Kitty Must Die – Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance 2

Following the global phenomenon that was ‘Six’, hatched right here at the fringe six years ago, the same Tony-winning production team are doubling down on this Musical, a mash-up of Asian Feminism with a killer’s touch.

Unfortunately, this looks more like a show in development rather than the finished article. Not only is the action slow and dull, the acting and singing are not much better.

Starting like a modernised version of Six with five American performers of East Asian origin, standing in formation, clad all in black, it aims, it claims, to demystify the Western myth of the ‘Hello Kitty’ trope. Erm, okay… I am already bored, and we are not even through the opening number.

The show proceeds to tell the story of Fiona Yu (Sami Ma) a 30-year-old American Lawyer, and virgin. It doesn’t really explain why she is still intact or why we should care, and well…we don’t. She then launches into a song about a dildo … erm okay…Six this ain’t!

The music by Cecilia with Lyrics by Jessica Wu is decent without being kick-ass or particularly memorable. The singing is average at best which, to say the least, is as disappointing as it is surprising.

Finally, the show takes too long to find its killers edge, and even when it does it is unconvincing. This is a show which can’t decide if it is a coming-of-age piece or a revenge thriller. Given the pedigree of the creative team behind it, and the obvious money that has been thrown at this, It is, to say the least, disappointing.

Ironically though, the silver lining for other wannabes out there, is that it just goes to show that money and pedigree don’t account for much in Edinburgh in August.

Running time – 1hr.

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 9th August 2023

North West End UK Rating: