SNACKS - A Musical Tasting Plate

SNACKS - A Musical Tasting Plate is a collection of three short musicals originally conceived and developed at the New York University - Tisch School of the Arts, Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Running at just an hour long, it was concise and diverse it had appeal for a wide variety of musical theatre audiences.

The first show of the evening was Strawman, with music by Jinhee Kim and book and lyrics by WA local, Cal Silberstein. A lovelorn scarecrow, Jim Gallybagger (an impressive Ben Thomas) pines for lonely farm girl Clara Knockwood (a lovely Olivia Everett) but cannot communicate with her. A Twilight Zone-esque story involving a deceptive magic crow Anzu (a strong James Marzec) - this bittersweet little tale is charming.

Darling Jack is set in September 1888 in Whitechapel. With music by Nick Stephens and book and lyrics by Rebecca Hart, it blends the reality of the Jack the Ripper murders with the fiction of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Peter Pan. A mesmerising little tale, it featured some beautifully acted and sung performances, especially Antonia Heymanson in the central role of Wendy Maybrick. Strong support from Thomas Owen as her doctor father and Ben Thomas as the ethereal Johnny Gill.

The final tale takes place in the late 19th century, in the Hamptons. In Schooled and Lettered, country girl Flora (an excellent Michaela Sheedy) arrives to visit her snobbish cousin Barbara Ross (a very different Olivia Everett) and her fiancé Charles Scott (another strong performance from James Marzec). This musical is written by Jacinth Greywoode (Music) and Chase O’Neill (Lyrics). 

The show is accompanied by Musical Director John MacPherson on keys, who also makes a very personable narrator, and minor roles are played (very ably) by the ensemble.

SNACKS - A Musical Tasting Plate was a lovely piece of musical tapas, that was thoroughly entertaining and a great showcase of new writing, direction and young performers.

Kimberley Shaw

Links to more Fringe World 2018 Reviews