ED FRINGE 2024 REVIEWS: SQUIDGE, A JAFFA CAKE MUSICAL

SQUIDGE

Below, Pleasance Courtyard

Written by, and Starring Tiggy Bayley, Squidge via the promotional material might have you a little confused; with Tiggy’s persona of Daisy carrying a small plastic chair often sat on by small children in education, you might come into the show must intrigued, and intrigued you should be, as when the small chair is one of the only bit’s of set dressing, you soon come to realise what the item represents. Tiggy Bayley weaves a story of heartbreak and hopefulness at the same time, which by the end of the performance, has you rooting for the character’s actions. It’s a bold, often emotional take on the educational system, and those like Daisy, a teaching assistant with a lot of heart and care for those she’s around, that drives your attention to Tiggy Bayley’s charismatic nature. Some directional moments feel a bit stilted at times, especially in the early stages of the performance, but with us kindly allowed to review this show on it’s first preview, and Bayley working out the show’s journey in the restricted playing space, the growth of Squidge over the next few weeks will certainly help aide this. 

A JAFFA CAKE MUSICAL

Pleasance Two, Pleasance Courtyard

From the team behind Runesical, Scouts,  and Timpson: The Musical, Gigglemug returns with probably their most universal outing, answering the long-contested debate, Is a Jaffa Cake a Cake, or a Biscuit(?). Now, going into this musical, I was a firm believer of the former, after all, there is no snap in a Jaffa Cake that for me, and most people alike, would settle the argument, but I must say that with this new musical, carried with great craftsmanship from Sam Cochrane (Kevin), Sabrina Messer (Katherine), Harry Miller (Jake), Alex Prescot (Judge / Keys), and Katie Pritchard (Tax Man), I couldn’t help but find myself swayed by the oppression at times, which is the beauty of this production. As an Ensemble, each performer carries with them charisma that makes you warm to their characters… okay, maybe not The Tax Man, but you have to give it up for Katie Pritchard who steals the production with ‘Tax Man’, a musical number that brought the house down.

There’s a lot to enjoy here for younger audiences, and smart detailing in the costume and set design that will have you picking apart all the symbolism behind the choices, designed by Lauren James, but it’s us as adults who have the contain our laughter at the moments where innuendos really push the boundaries, most notably in ‘The Fork Song’, and ‘Hard or Soft’. It’s witty, fast paced nature allows for a staggering thirty songs to be enjoyed, and I would hope to see a further life with the production later down the line, as whilst the show hits all the right notes, the exposition at the top of the show feels too rushed even for older audiences, so with a slightly running time, I could easily see ‘A Jaffa Cake Musical’ certainly giving some more established musicals across the country, a run for its money.