Writer Amy Hawes, one third of Tandem Writing Collective, teams up with keyboard player Aaron McGregor to present a brand-new musical about Introverts. Still at workshop stage we are treated to a sneaky peek by a trio of fine actors: Kim Allen, Natalie Arle-Toyne and Betty Valencia, with scripts in hand.
Toyne stands out as the neurotic, protective mother, trying to protect her anxiety filled, introvert daughter, Angela, played by Valencia, with Allen never far away as the side-kick imaginary friend.
When Angela is given the chance of a free a course at the Introvert Conversion Centre (ICC) which has recently opened in Livingston, and her mum the commission to write about it, they both jump at the chance. It’s not long before Angela is transformed into an online celebrity with a host of followers, the Angellies, hanging on her every move and makeup tip. But where will it end…
The three take on multiple roles, which does add to the confusion, particularly at the start of the show, which takes a bit of time to get going, this could do with a ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ moment! However, it does begin to find it’s pace and with some quirky and catchy songs, beautifully sung with some gorgeous harmonies, it has legs. But it needs work.
The odd choice to split this barely hour-long show into two acts, with a fifteen-minute interval, allows much of the energy to leak away.
Ironically, the uniqueness and lack of derivative direction are perhaps the greatest weaknesses here. So often the successful musical predates on the past, with a mixture of irony, humour or downright plagiarism, think of Mormon, Shrek or Drowsy Chaperone. In fact, there are so many musical references within musicals it has become the norm rather than the exception, it’s like finding musical Easter eggs! A tongue-in-cheek nod to the genre is unfortunately notably absent here. There was a brief moment when the three, legs astride, face the audience to sing the final number, with a hint of Six feminist angst, but very brief.
This project funded by Creative Scotland and National Theatre of Scotland, and supported by The Traverse Theatre reminds us that new writing, acting and the creative arts in Scotland is not dead. It also reminds us that writing a successful musical is no simple task, it often takes multiple years of workshops and rewrites.
I’m reminded of the team behind smash hit musical, ‘Six’ which launched at Edinburgh Fringe several years ago and went on to become a blockbuster, award-winning West End and Broadway hit. The same writing team backed by a big American producer with deep pockets then created the very confused Hello Kitty Must Die, which was so bad it sent me to sleep last year – definitely one for the litter tray. This business is hard and there are never any guarantees.
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 30th March 2024
North West End UK Rating: