Tag Archives: Joseph Dunitz

COME DINE WITH ME: THE MUSICAL

★★★★

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

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COME DINE WITH ME: THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

★★★★

“an absolute treat”

Come Dine With Me is a national treasure of British television, having been on our screens on Channel 4 since 2005. It’s contributed greatly to the world of meme culture and is much-loved (and watched) by people all over the world. Given the success of previous television-inspired musicals, such as the hugely popular Great British Bake Off: The Musical, it makes perfect sense that someone has finally had the idea of turning this TV classic into the next big fringe musical hit.

The team comprises writer and lyricist Sam Norman, composer Aaron King, and is co-created with Nell Butler and Genevieve Welch, who both work directly on the actual TV show itself. It all starts with the TV crew – producer, camera, and sound operator – farcically falling about the auditorium as the audience take their seats. The show starts and there’s a problem: the nation loves Come Dine With Me, but ratings aren’t what they used to be, and the producer Mary (Daniele Coombe) needs something really special to happen to maintain the show’s success. The format then follows that of the TV show: four contestants take it in turns to host a dinner party, each getting a score from the others, and the winner receives a £1000 cash prize. The writers do a neat job at briefly packing this exposition into the start of the narrative, just to make sure anyone who hasn’t seen the show is caught up. What follows is a bit different though. As the nights begin the contestants are being sabotaged by someone, but who? A nightmare for the contestants, this becomes an opportunity for peak TV drama for Mary.

I’m a slight cynic when it comes to big title musical adaptations based on reality TV shows, but turns out I had nothing to fear with this one. The songs are excellent, with some cracking lyrics; Teddy (Harry Chandler) self-describing as ‘a virgin on the verge of turning into a hermit’ as a standout line.

Sure, there’s not much depth to the story, but with a slick 60-minute run time you don’t need it really. The cast give fantastic performances. Coombe’s vocals are electric and her stage presence commanding, with a semi-villainous number giving her a real opportunity to shine.

The top performance though comes from Chandler as Teddy, who plays the awkward nerdiness to perfection. He makes his body small and wriggly, and is charmingly adorable in his interactions with love interest Janey (Sophie Hutchinson). His vocals are incredible, with a rich, deep voice that is tightly controlled and a joy to listen to. I was going to add that he’d make a superb Enjolras in Les Mis, but a quick CV search shows he’s actually played the part already! And no surprise there. Chandler and Hutchinson delight with their duet singing ‘We could drink champagne, we could light a candle, we could share a meal, when the world feels inhumane.’ It’s a real highlight of the show.

Some of the characters feel more fleshed out than others. Kim Ismay is a lot of fun as the stiff upper-lipped Barbara and her song about cooking French cuisine is a hoot. It would be great to see the other contestants developed a bit further for the show’s future life, which I really hope this gets as it’s an absolute treat.


COME DINE WITH ME: THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Underbelly – Bristo Square – Cowbarn

Reviewed on 16th August 2024

by Joseph Dunitz

Photography by Mark Senior

 

 


COME DINE WITH ME

COME DINE WITH ME

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THE KAYE HOLE

★★★★★

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Reviews, , , , , , , , , ,

THE KAYE HOLE at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

★★★★★

“a tremendous night of outstanding queer entertainment”

I mean, where do I start with this one!? ‘You going to Kaye Hole?’, I kept being asked last year, having never heard of it and missing getting my hands on a ticket before it sold out during my short visit. Naturally, I made it one of the first things to book this time. And boy oh boy will I be returning!

Reuben Kaye, an Australian comedian, singer and writer, hosts this queer late-night cabaret at Assembly’s Palais du Variété. Each night, an eclectic line up of guest performers take to the stage to entertain the crowd.

After warming up the crowd with an electric energy and stage presence, and inviting us warmly to his ‘hole’, Kaye introduces the first act, New York cabaret artist Salty Brine. Brine compels us with us an Annie Lennox number (from their solo show These Are The Contents of My Head) in a performance which is mesmerising and offers real star quality. It sets the bar high for the rest of the night. Next up, it’s comedian Josephine Lacey, a self-described ‘gilf’, who terrifies one particular member of the audience by menacingly flirting with him before making jokes about his genitals. Her humour is quite blunt and brutal, but the jokes are so funny you can’t help but laugh. She’s also up here with her show Autism Mama, and if this snippet of her comedy style is anything to go by I’m sure it’s an absolute hit.

Marshall Arkley is next to heat things up – literally – with an act combining fire-eating and striptease. This is quite different from the standard street performers you’ll see here at fringe though, with a jaw-dropping moment which involves balancing one of the fire sticks on the tip of his penis. Alex Hines then performs a hilarious act which at one point involves being breastfed by Kaye who wears a giant pair of fake breasts. It’s totally mad and you can’t take your eyes away. The penultimate act of the night, Jacqueline Furey, impresses with her sword swallowing, which is sexy and terrifying all at once.

But the most bonkers act of the night is definitely saved until last, as Tara Boom performs a hula-hooping routine, completely naked, with a popcorn maker strapped to her head popping actual kernels as she smothers her body in butter. It’s completely unhinged, off-the-scale level of bonkers, and a beautiful end to the night which has the audience in fits of laughter as we’re cheering her on. I’ll save the final twist in her act for you to see for yourself!

Throughout the night, Kaye promotes all of the performers’ solo shows, and concludes the night with a wonderful act of community as everyone in the crowd is encouraged to promote their own fringe shows. It might be hard to believe that, in a night involving a man balancing a fire stick in his urethra, this moment is one of the most memorable, but it really is. Kaye delivers a little monologue about the financial struggles of performing at the festival, and it’s a really touching moment that shows Kaye’s care for the artists is just as a high as his passion for the craft.

The Kaye Hole is a tremendous night of outstanding queer entertainment which is quickly selling out its run, so get a ticket!


THE KAYE HOLE at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Assembly George Square Gardens – Palais du Variété

Reviewed on 15th August 2024

by Joseph Dunitz

 

 


THE KAYE HOLE

THE KAYE HOLE

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