A core of strong musical talent supports a funky musical that needs wider vision.Rating
Ok
The Edinburgh Fringe is coming up fast and it’s time for previews. Here at Jackson’s Lane the show in question is Bugs at Work: Cricket and the Freebugs, a musical advertised as suitable for all ages; a family show for kids and adults alike.
The premise is simple: country boy Cricket wants to make music and leaves his dung heap to do so. He’s turned down by the big city producer but then forms a band, leading to personal success at the expense of his friends, and a learning curve.
At the heart of the show is a cracking band of actor/musicians. With upbeat, funky songs and a generous array of instruments including saxophone, trumpet, keyboards, percussion – even spoons – all performed live, there’s no doubting the talent on stage. A standout piece is the spider’s tale of nibbling away at her friend the fly, that has dark consequences.
With a plot that has no complexity it’s up to the staging to bring interest, and this is where a fundamental problem arises. The show is so entirely invested in the music that it becomes like listening to a soundtrack album. There’s some limited choreography and character interaction, but these barely help with enhancing the story. No set or props are used to establish locations; there’s no sense of adventuring to the city, or the glamour of fame. Costumes are relied upon to create a range of characters, but often this just involves wearing a different pair of glasses, which is not distinctive enough to signpost the changes clearly.
The script itself is focussed on moving between songs, and it’s hard to identify with the characters as they’re not very well-rounded, providing no emotional engagement in their journey. There are themes and ideas key to the storytelling that children simply would not get: one character is the “fifth beetle” with a Liverpudlian accent, which requires historical knowledge to understand. Additionally, when the name of the band is decided (pretty key to the show) the lengthy version is delivered overly quickly and is so convoluted that it’s impossible to catch for adults, let alone younger audience members. It’s also unclear why the characters are insects in any case. This feels gimmicky, with missed opportunity to give depth by incorporating buggy knowledge about working as a hive, or ecosystems. The odd suggestion of this arises, for example with the ant’s rhythm, but still a whole load of the noises, scraping and clicking that might come from insects could be integrated into costume and props with some imagination and innovation, to actually connect the theme with the music.
Speaking of music, it’s loud. There were very few children in the audience when I attended but they all covered their ears. Perhaps offering ear defenders would be helpful. Additionally, breaks between songs need to be more marked, as the audience had to be prompted to applaud.
As a ‘family’ show this definitely leans more into entertainment for adults than to being child-centred. There’s audience engagement with clapping of hands, but no moments where children are seen and become part of the show by joining in, singing or shouting out, nor humour specifically aimed at them. And none of it feels organic, wedged in to the highly-worked set list.
This was a preview show, so the fact that the tech, choreography and lighting was patchy is perhaps excusable. The balance between the wider production and the investment in the music is an issue still to be addressed though. However, with such a core of musical talent there’s real potential here if this show is given more balance.
Book, music and lyrics by Johan Ribbing
Book by Milo Maris
Cricket and the Freebugs has finished its run at Jackson’s Lane but will play again at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh from Thursday 6 to Sunday 30 August.
