Every year the second year students attending Arden Theatre School's Musical Theatre degree course are tasked in devising, writing, and performing their own musical. As a musical theatre trained actor myself, I know just how difficult and daunting a task this can be, Over the years I have seen many different styles and approaches to this task, some working better than others, and this afternoon's offering, 'The Waiting Game' was actually not really a musical at all. Instead this group opted for performing a song cycle with original songs all on a similar and through-running theme. The theme they chose was that of 'waiting' with especial reference to love and relationships. The musical ran for just over one hour through without interval, and we were treated to 23 original songs written and performed by this talented group.
Performed on a bare stage with just a couple of raised daises we needed to rely on some subtle and clever lighting, a little haze (overused), costumes (nicely done), and the performances themselves. There was a nice mix of comedy songs, upbeat numbers and the power ballad, although it would have been a little more interesting and varied from an audience's perspective to have had some more choreography and a couple more full chorus songs. We did have a poetic dialogue in the second act - a modern mickey-take of Romeo And Juliet, which was a lovely respite from weepy and heart-felt torch songs.
Throughout the hour we visited many different places for these songs, including a wedding, prison, an airport, and the Oscar ceremony! The one thing that was constant throughout however was the performers chose to use local accents (either their own or deliberately "put-on") which I didn't quite understand the need for. Subjectively I have to say that my favourite song this afternoon was without doubt, 'Redemption' - It was sung beautifully by four girls in close harmony a capella.
Without a storyline / narrative, and without any through-characters, it is impossible to say more about this "musical". It was proficiently performed, and nicely showcased the abilities of this group of students.
REVIEWER - Alastair Zyggu
on - 4.5.25
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