Jackie!!! – Gilded Balloon

The lights dim, shots are fired, and we are jolted to attention. A sombre funeral march puts us in the centre of the bleak aftermath of the day that reset the American political landscape and shook the nation. We prepare for a mourning sequence, until a record-scratch sound effect blares and rosy lights give way to Jackie Kennedy chirping a Ben Shapiro quote.Making a sparkling debut at this year’s fringe, Jackie!!! is an unpredictably hilarious musical surrounding the famed First Lady and the heavy load of the Kennedy name.

The Kennedys need no introduction, and tonight’s audience seem well-versed in their folklore. The set design is impressive, allowing for swift entries and exits of tantalisingly unpredictable characters. With four White House Doors framing the stage, we glimpse inside the closed curtains of the residence of American royalty, seeing comings and goings of cabinet members, the Kennedy family and JFK’s long line of mistresses.

Nancy Edwards is the spitting image of Jackie, with a performance that gradually grows from innocent, bubbly and naïve to defiant under the tight fist of the stifling Kennedy name. Although remaining firmly a ‘comedy’, emotional musical numbers allow for explorations into her growing depression due to coercive control and her husband’s infidelity. Joe McNeice dazzles with impeccable comedic timing as a feather-headed JFK, although his function as a hapless and lust-driven caricature restricts emotional depth. The entire cast portray multiple roles with ease and charm, although at times bordering on caricature – Bobby Kennedy’s character is giddy and childish, while Joseph Kennedy’s rumbling voice has airs of Disney villain.

In a particularly memorable scene, Jackie, a newly christened Kennedy, is taught to cope with the limelight by a chaotic pop-up of the period’s famous faces – we see a sultry Marilyn Monroe, scandalous Elvis and brooding Bob Dylan. Intricate props show the magnitude of Jackie’s fame, as three Jackies donned with brown bobs read magazines with her face on at the hairdresser’s. The costume design transports us straight to the late 50s with iconic garments such as the infamous pink Chanel suit.

When the audience exits the venue humming one of a musical’s original songs, it is without a doubt the indicator for stellar songwriting. Catchy, bubble gum-pop hits such as opener and closer ‘Go Jackie Go’ are infectious earworms, while the jazzy and menacing ‘Bought and Paid For’ sung by Joseph Kennedy (Luke Hickman) is a dark exploration of coercive control – Jackie!!! does not shy away from the less glamourous side of the Kennedy family. Witty writing incorporates quips steeped in historical references and even pop culture references such a whimsical nod to No One Mourns The Wicked and Jackie being asked very solemnly in true Oprah fashion if she was ‘silent’ or ‘silenced’.

All while rehashing a story told countless times before, the cast of Jackie!!! will have you chortling and humming their songs for days to come.

Reviewer: Juliette Pepin

Reviewed: 8th August 2025

North West End UK Rating: