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Underbelly, Bristo Square, Cowbarn
A heartwarming and entertaining musical that tracks the events of the Covid pandemic through some of the most affected communities. Summary
Rating
Excellent
As the audience arrives, narrator, singer and musician Samantha Richards sits comfortably on stage waiting for everyone to settle, acoustic guitar slung over her shoulder. Talented and assured, she opens the show to introduce character and theme. It’s the last night of 2019 and Emily (Natasha Mould) and Adam (Tom Watson), like many thousands of other people across the world, are making plans for 2020. Both are actors dreaming of their big break in a musical, but unaware of the seismic disruption that awaits them in the form of Covid.
2020 the Musical tracks the fortunes of a group of musical theatre actors whose lives are abruptly paused in the middle of March 2020 when theatres go dark in preparation for Lockdown 1. Funny, clever and moving, it follows the traditional format of a musical pretty much to the letter.
Conventional the structure may be, but that doesn’t detract from the strength of the writing and performance. Mirroring the circumstances of the writer, Emily retrains as a carer in her local community home which conveniently houses Adam’s grandfather. She had become close to Adam during their stage work and is keen to take the relationship to another level. A few misunderstandings and delays aside, the rest, as they say, is history. Adam finds a new job in a popular budget supermarket, paving the way for some of the funniest, joyful, laugh-out-loud song and dance numbers I’ve seen in a while.
Whilst Richards, Mould and Watson are undoubtedly the lead characters, the rest of the small cast admirably fill a number of different roles and are gifted, confident and funny. Vocally strong, all performers move seamlessly through personalities: Boris Johnson makes several comic appearances; Sir Tom Moore is to be seen with his walker and journalist Naga Munchetty can be found reading the news. Set and scenery are minimal, which just means the talents of the performers shine even brighter.
How do you make something that stands out in the already busy sector of musical theatre? Well, I think Natasha Mould (creator and performer) has managed it. She has written something that is both funny and poignant whilst deftly avoiding mawkishness. Yes, I shed a tear and there were several times when I had a lump in my throat, but before long I was roaring with laughter again. And it would appear the rest of the audience felt the same way. I would be surprised if this doesn’t go from strength to strength.
Writer, Director, Choreographer and Producer: Natasha Mould
Musical composer / orchestrator: Richard Vanryne
Produced by: Fit The Mould Productions
2020 The Musical plays at Underbelly for EdFringe 2023 until 27 August. Further information and bookings can be found here.
