Tag Archives: 2025

“Just in time” review

My next show and the first a double header on my last day in New York for this trip is the matinee of “Just in Time”. This production opened at the Circle in the Square theatre on March 31st 2025 and is currently scheduled to conclude its extended run on January 11th 2026. The show has a running time of around two hours and thirty minutes with a start time of 2pm for the Saturday matinee. The shows book is created by Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver and is developed and directed by Alex Timbers who has done a brilliant job with the use of the theatre space, but more on him later.

The circle in square theatre 23rd August 2025

I took my seat in auditorium of the circle of the square and suddenly remembered that I have been in this theatre space before. It was for “Once on this Island the musical” back in the start of 2018. At first I did not recognise the space as it was so different and has now been transformed into a 50s style cabaret club. As this is no a traditional theatre space even for broadway terms there is only one level and floor seating for this particular production. I was sat in the orchestra row 5 seat 119. As per the image below my view was totally uninterrupted and am amazing view. Having said that any seat or even standing behind the Garuda rails at the top would provide an amazing view of the show with no bad seat in the full house auditorium.

View from Orchestra Row F Seat 119

I was a little hesitant as I am not aware of Bobby Darin as an individual however the production images of the show made it look like a Broadway spectacle and the draw of seeing Jonathan Groff live was too much and I would like to quickly say I was not disappointed. For those who don’t know like myself Bobby Darin was a singer/songwriter and actor who is considered one of not the best of his time in the 50s and early 60s. This show charts the story of his remarkable short life while highlighting and including some of his iconic songs some of which I knew and most I did not. However that was not a problem as this show did not rely on you knowing who he was or any of his songs as the show provides the full biopic of his life.

The show starts in a pretty unique way by breaking the fourth wall as Jonathan Groff is introduced as himself. After a very quick introduction we are thrown straight into the autobiographical section of the show and suddenly Jonathan Groff IS Bobby Darin. Before I get onto how brilliant Jonathan Groff is, the story and book of this show is fantastic. It was detailed enough for a complete Bobby Darin novice like myself to understand while keeping it fast paced. The two and half hours just flew by also helped by the brilliant direction and staging.

The set was pretty much static with the occasionally sliding of the piano in and out. There was very clever use of a second “mini” stage directly opposite the main stage and across the floor seating tables. This can be seen in the view from my seat image above and is in the bottom right. The performers moved from main to mini stage through the seated tables shown in the same image above or from the aisles literally through the audience. Very clever use of lighting to direct the audience attention to either area meant that small prop and scene setting could occur on the opposite stage. This meant for some very slick scene changes without the need for any actual moving set pieces.

The general lighting and especially direction and use of this unique theatre space meant that the whole show have a very immersive feel. This was aided by the intermit theatre space which really made you feel like you were stepping into that cabaret show space. Along with the lighting both around the auditorium and spotlight on the aisles really made you feel you were in the show rather than just watching it on stage. This was even my opinion from someone sat in the main seating, for those in the seated tables at point there were actually in the show and at all times had performers brushing past them. No matter where you were in the auditorium at some point during the show you were only a few feet away from the action, which as a whole gave an amazing non traditional musical theatre experience which was amazing to be part of. The on stage 9 piece band who did not literally miss a beat during the whole show really added to the authentic caberat club atmosphere.

As mentioned earlier the direction and production of the whole show was brilliant and Alex Timbers deserves the recognition for this as he has made this a truly unique and amazing broadway production. If he does not get nominated for Tony for this show then something is seriously wrong. The music as you would expect contains some of bobby Darin biggest hits including “Splish splash” and “Mack the knife” along with other huge hits from the time in which Bobby Darin covered or recovered over his active years. Each one perfectly fit the relevant part of the story and making this essentially a jukebox musical but not as you know it thanks to the brilliant direction and general production. The full cast recording as of last week is now available and I highly recommend you listen to it. A little taster of the show can be seen in the short trailer below:

Now to move onto costumes for this show which not only added to but made this a true broadway spectacle. The use of very subtle but slick costume changes throughout the show ensure that the slow of the production was kept up and aided the slick scene changes due to some very clever costume and prop movement around the stage. All costumes where spectacular non more so than the three sirens/ Bobby back up dancers. Who seem to reappear within seconds in a totally different but as amazing costume as before. Apart from Groff these three of Valeria Yamin, Claire Camp and Julia Grondin where the hardest working performers in the show.

Aside from these three performers the other standouts for me were the two actresses playing bobby love interests who start with Connie Francis played by Gracie Lawrence and Sandra Dee who is played by in this production the understudy Larkin Reilly. Both respectively are amazing and their vocals were brilliant. Again goes to show the power and talent of an understudy, without a note in my playbill I would not have known. Gracie has more stage time in the first act and Larkin taking the stage in the second act as we move onto the latter part of Bobby career and life. Along side these there are a brilliant supporting cast which also included Caesar Samayoa who I instantly recognised from the original cast of “Come from away” and also appears in the Apple TV recorded version of the show.

Now for a comment on the the star of the show Jonathan Groff. I do not generally support the idea of seeing a show just for one person as I believe as already mentioned in this review how amazing the supporting cast and understudies are. However I have to admit that as confessed earlier seeing Jonathan Groff in person was one of the main draws to the show for me. I can confirm he did not disappoint and was out of this world, one of the best musical theatre performers I have seen. I fully understand why he is a Tony award winner and should be nominated and WIN awards at the next Tonys for this performance. For the entirety of the first act he did not leave stage and took water breaks in characters and at relevant parts of the story. Even during the second act you can count the minutes on one hand that he leaves the stage. All this while performing every song in my mind to perfection along with every dance routine and his acting was spot on. Just to top off this triple threat perfection he even plays multiple instruments and the piano on more than one occasion during the show, all live. Showing he really is a quadruple threat and has to win another Tony.

Overall if it is not obvious already I loved this show and as a result is has to be 4 out of 5 stars. You do not need to be a Bobby Darin fan or even know who he is to appreciate and love the quadruple threat that is Jonathan Groff in this brilliant immersive production of Bobby Darin life where you are literally feet away from the action wherever you sit.

More information on this show can be found on their website.

Day 3 (Friday 15th August):

Day 3 once again start around 8am to attended the NT breakfast again. This was a great breakfast as I was sat with the writer and MD from yesterday show “I wish my life were like a musical”. It was such an insightful chat about his show and others he is working on. Along with an insight in what it is actually like creating and running a show at the fringe. As well as lots of generally theatre and industry chat. It was one of the best breakfast conversation I have had with a creative. After a long chat it was time to head back to the Pleasance courtyard.

The big bite-size breakfast show

Playing at venue 33 (Pleasance one at Pleasance courtyard) with a start time of 10:30 and a running time of 1 hour 10 minute. I have seen a big bite size breakfast a couple of years ago and was pleased when I was able to fit it into my 2025 itinerary. The concept is five different short plays performed by the five actors. Each day the 5 plays rotate around three sets. So that’s 15 shows by 5 actors in a three day window and then repeat. I really like the format of a 10 to 15 minute play/scene very much like a short film. I find it very impressive that a writer can create characters and good story in such a short time frame. The performance I watched was menu one. Which had the following plays (Some synopsis contain spoilers).
Such dreams as stuff is made on (Dan McGeehan)
A opportunity for a wealthy couple to keep up with their friends and prove how nice their belongings are during an burglary. However proving wealth does not bring inelegance when the burglars appear.
The unbearable lightness of bring on the the phone (Karl Minns)
Two different phone conversations on the bus which seem to answer each others questions.
The gaffer (J.P Mannion)
What seems like a Dear England football manger and phycologist style scene takes a twist and answers the question of is this actually a football manager simulation from the the future. My favourite of the five shows
Emergency contact (Laura Bonang)
A man unable to get over his exe girlfriend of two years takes drastic action of being hit by a bus. Just to get the opportunity to speak to her as his emergency contact which seems to be working until his bride to be turns up fro the alter.
Annnd scene (of the crime) (John Busser)
An American improv group member is killed in the UK and the police have a prime suspect. They are able to find out the truth using the “ding” improv game. In which every time the bell rings the scene changes.
I highly recommend the big bite size breakfast show it is multiple snippets of great playwriting and a perfect way to start your fringe day, you even get free tea/coffee and a croissant. Overall as a concept I give this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for being here

Playing at venue 82 (Main house at Zoo Southside) with a start time of 13:45 and a running time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. After finding out this show was another immersive theatre experience, I was slightly worried after last night “immersive” experience. However I was pleasantly surprised as this is not immersive theatre as you know it. As the show is a fully immersive show as the audience is the show however you do not have to do anything. There is great use of Jamie Lloyd esc/style camera and projection work. While the camera is recovering the audience as soon as you enter the space. Then this is narrated by the cast in a very clever way. There is also amazing use of lip sync that provide the perfect depiction of voice real recordings of audience members. At times is felt like an art exhibition and at others more like a social experiment that an traditional show as there is no real plot. It is appreciating that without an audience there would be no performance. It did seem that they only really had enough content for around 30 to 40 minutes and had to drag certain sections out for the whole time slot. Overall I give the experience 3 out of 5 stars.

Hot mess

Playing at venue 33 (Pleasance Two at Pleasance) with a start time of 15:10 and a running time of 1 hour and 5 minute. I was really looking forward to this show mainly because it a brand new musical but also the cast. About 5 minute into the show starting it encountered my first ever technical show stop at the fringe which lasted about 10 to 15 minutes. However was resolved eventually by the amazing tech crew and the show went on and what a great show it was. It’s a modern day style musical romantic comedy between Earth and Humanity (Hu). Which at first sounds very strange but due to the great writing it actually works really well. As it is able to align the different stages of earth development with the different stages of a relationship lifecycle. For example it uses climate change to highlight one partner in a relationship taking advantage of the other. Also using humanity extinction on earth as the break up of the relationship. The staging and especially lighting and sound effects were used very well and almost seem to complicated and developed for the very small space it was performing in.  The vernal style is very modern day musical theatre with very heavy beat based songs, think “Six the musical”. Danielle Steers played earth who I have seen a lot in the West End most memorably in “Bat out of hell the musical”. Her voice is so powerful and unique but works so well in a musical theatre format. Tobias Turley played Hu (Humanity) was the winner of the ITV show “Mamma Mia! I have a dream” was brilliant as expected. I always find it so strange yet amazing when you get to see West End talent perform in such a small and intimate space. It’s a climate change rom com modern day musical, this show definitely has a future somewhere. Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars.  

Abnormally funny people

Playing at venue 33 (Beside at Pleasance Courtyard) with a start time of 16:50 and a running time of 1 hour. This show was located literally next door to the previous show so even after the late finish due to the tent all issue in the previous show I had plenty of time between the shows. My last two shows at the fringe were stand up, this was not a conscious choice it was just how the scheduling it worked out. This show has been running for 20 years at the fringe and consists of 5 stand ups which all have some form of disability. The only difference between this show and any of stand up show was that the audience was on thie acts side from the beginning. It was not your traditional audience where some of them are trying to get at the act. Everyone was on the acts side and the result of it was a really good atmosphere and one of the best stand up shows I have seen at the Fringe. The acts who performed at this particular show were:
Jake Donaldson
Don Biswas
Ria Lina
Gabriella Rolls
The show was compèred by Juliette Burton who was brilliant and my faviotie out of all the performers.  I highly recommend this show to anyone attending the fringe. As a result I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Farewell dinner with Indhu Rubasingham
The next social event as part of the National Theatre trip is the dinner. This used to be a welcome dinner however due to Indhu currently being in the middle of rehearsal for her debut show as the new director of the NT the dinner was moved to Friday night. It was a great catchup opportunity with other patrons and NT staff discussing all the good and not so good shows and experiences of the fringe. It is always a great time with some great food from the three course meal at the Balmoral hotel. Before I knew it was time to wrap up the conversations and make my way to the final show of the trip

Best of the fest: The new class

Playing at Venue 3 (Piccolo Tent at Assembly George square gardens) with a start of 22:35 and a running time of 1 hour. This was my show 16 and my last show of this year fringe. The purpose of this show is to take five stand up comics you are new or entering talent and give them a 10 minute slot. I have attended this event in the past and watched some great stand up. However the same can not be said for this particular show. The audience did not seem to be onboard form the outset and due to the inexperience of the performers there was no crowd work to attempt to turn this. As a result the audience were pretty flat and also though some of the jokes landed it was not a great general stand up experience. The abnormally funny people acts were so much better than these. In this show the follow comics performed:
Annie Boyle
Shalaka Kurup
Jacob Nussey
Lou Wall
May O’Connell compèred the event.
Lou Wall was the best act even though I had seen some of her act which went viral online recently about a marketplace sale of a bed frame. Overall I have to give these set of acts 1 out of 5 stars.  

I then made my way back to the balmoral for the last time of this trip at around midnight. It had been another 16 hour day with just over 14K steps completed. It only leaves one more breakfast in the morning before I have to make my way to the airport for my return flight.


  

Fringe Day 2 (Thursday 14th August)

Day 2 was a not too earlier start of 8am to attend the NT breakfast along with fellow patrons and a familiar faces from some of the shows on the suggested list. After a quick catch up with other patrons talking all things fringe and theatre in general, it was time to leave to catch my first show of the day at the Traverse which is about a twenty minute walk from The Balmoral.    

The beautiful future is coming

Playing at Venue 15 (Traverse 1 at Traverse Theatre) starting at 10:0 with a running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The show follows three duos one from the past of 1856, another from modern times of 2027 and one from the future of 2100. All three couples highlight the different stages and affects of climate change. From the original women scientist struggle to highlight such change is possible. To the current effects of hot summers and heavy storms. To the total different world caused by the dramatic change in the climate. The switching between the three timelines is very easy to follow while at the same time able to highlight similarities between them every though the lives and situations are totally different. It also kept the pace of the shown which meant the 1.5 hours flew past. The overall writing was brilliant. The play is a fully formed no interval production which could easily drop on any West End stage and not be out of place. Not very fringe due to the completeness of the production but very good never the less. Overall 3.5 out of 5 stars.
For more details about Consumed click the image above.

Consumed

Playing at Venue 15 (Traverse 1 at Traverse Theatre) starting at 10:00 with a running time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. As it was in the same theatre space as the last show for once I didn’t have to dart across Edinburgh for the show. Instead I was able to sit in the Traverse theatre/ foyer and grab a drink and start today’s blog. I had not been to Traverse one until yesterday and now three consecutive shows in. I have realised that the productions are full ready to run shows and not your traditional Fringe shows. Consumed was no difference, in fact it was the most fully produced show I have seen at the fringe. This was as a result of a full set and prop display no different to any one set play I have seen on either the West End or Broadway. The production and run time could easily slot into any West End or Broadway stage. The show depicts four generations of females from the same Irish family. Who have convened for the matriarchs 90th birthday. The play deletes deeper and exposures the huge cracks in the family dynamic and relationship which crescendo in a dark conclusion. With some jokes and Irish quips along the way. A great ready to drop onto any stage production and as a result 4 out of 5 stars,      
For more details about Consumed click the image above.

Aquapella

Playing at Venue 64 (Auditorium at Gilded Balloon at the museum) starting at 16:15 with a running time of 1 hour. This was not a pre booked show and something I only booked a few hours before as their was a gap in my schedule. There were two reason for this choice, one it is in the same venue and the show before my already booked next show. Also seeing a competitive a cappella group live is something that I have always waited to see, after watching lots over the years online and in movies. I did MiCapella in Singapore many years ago but they are not traditional a cappella. The show did not disappoint, you have to keep reminding yourself that there is no backing track and all the sound is being made by the voices on stage. The talent on display is unbelievable and no wonder Aquapella from bath university is on their 9th consecutive fringe year and toured the UK and performed on Broadway along with regular top 3 finishes at national competitive level. You have to see an Acappella group live to really understand it. Overall 4 out of 5 stars.  

I wish my life were like musical

Playing at Venue 64 (Auditorium at Gilded Balloon at the museum) starting at 16:15 with a running time of 1 hour and 10 minutes. This is a comedy musical about being a musical theatre performer and its devoted fan base. It charts the whole life cycle of a musical theatre performer from auditioning as a fresh drama school graduate to becoming that successfully diva.  It is very cleverly written and contains so many theatre and especially musical theatre references, that only a real die hard musical theatre fan will understand. As a self confessed musical nerd I am happy to say that I picked up on the majority of them. However not everyone in the audience did and I feel were not able to fully appreciate how clever this show was. The four performers where very talented musical theatre performers. It was great fun and can see why they have been at the fringe since 2019 increasing their capacity. Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Nina Conti: Whose face is it anyway?

Playing at venue 302 (McEwan Hall at Underbelly Bristo Square starting at 19:20 with a running time of 1 hour. This venue has to be one of if not the biggest venue I have been in at the fringe. Nina has been someone I have seen online for years and always found very funny and clever. So was really pleased to see that her fringe show managed to fit into my itinerary. I am so glad I did see Nina. I was literally crying with laughter within the first 10 minutes. The show is self confessed to be not scripted and solely relies on the input from audience interactions. The way Nina is able to take very little input from the audience member and suddenly great a whole new persona and voice for them while having brilliant comedic call backs. Is pure genius, the quick whit of Nina while doing at some points over seven people voices on stage at one time. Due to the unscripted nature you could watch this show every night and every night would be as hilarious as the last. Absolutely amazing and Nina has to be seen live as a result 5 out of 5 stars.

Club NVRLND

Playing at venue 322 (Checkpoint at Assembly checkpoint) with a start time of 21:15 with a running time of 1 hour 30 minute. This show is the first dud of the fringe, there has to be at least one otherwise it is not a successfully fringe. The show is roughly based on Peter Pan with Neverland as a nightclub. This show is where I really wished I read the fringe show site a little more detailed. It was an “immersive” experience in the fact that you were in an actual club with the actors moving around you. With a mid 2000s nightclub/rave environment. The performers blasted out nostalgic classic in which the audience joined in. If you like or liked clubbing and have a group of friends all brought up in the late 90s early 2000s this would be a 5 out of 5 star show. However for me who can count on one hand the amount of nightclubs I have been to did not enjoy this one bit and as a result 0 out of 5 starts.  

Adam Riches and John Kearns are Ball and Boe

Playing at Venue 33 (Grand at Pleasance courtyard) with a start time of 23:00 and a running time of 1 hour. This show could not be the polar opposite of the previous show and was glad I left the previous show 15 minutes earlier. The very late start time seemed very strange even for the fringe due to the target audience, it did result in the youngest Ball and Boe related audience I have ever seen. With people actually younger than me for once. I can only assume the odd billing timing is due to the fact that this was the first of only three nights this show is playing at the fringe. This show had played in London which I missed but aware that the real Ball and Boe attended and approved of it. I have to state that I am a huge Ball and Boe fan having seen their concerts many times including multiple times at the O2 as well as their Les Mis appearances. The show was brilliant again crying with laughter at the caricatures versions of Ball and Boe. They took the obvious differences and traits of both Micheal Ball and Alfie Boe and had them down to a tee. Ball was the “darlings” theatrical persona while Alfie was the straight serious tenor. The few songs actually song mainly “The greatest show” where performed very well with amazing voices. But the script and physicality of the charters where hilarious and the more of a Ball and Boe fan you are the funnier it becomes. Overall the show was 4.5 out of 5 stars.

That brings to an end of day 2 and my first full day at the fringe this year. I totally forgot how insignificant the time of day becomes at the fringe. You never have any context if it is afternoon or evening. Day 2 ends with me back in my Balmoral hotel room at around 00:30. It’s been around a 16 hour day with a modest 10.5K step count



Fringe Day 1 (Wednesday 13th August):

The day started at 6am to enable me to get to the local airport to fly up to Edinburgh. After a slight delay we eventually landed at around 10:45 (45 minutes later than scheduled). For me it was straight to the Balmoral hotel to meet the brilliant NT development staff, where I picked up my tickets for the first shows of the trip.  

Nerds: The Bill Gates vs Steve Jobs Comedy musical

Playing at Venue 302 (Cowbarn at Underbelly, Bistro Square) starting at 12:30 with a running time of 1 hour 10 minutes was my first show of this years fringe. It was my two worlds colliding. My day job of IT and tech with my favorite hobby musical theatre. The combination was even better than I could think of. The show charts the intiail and continued rival of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as they try and dominate the energy tech world. This is the most full rounded/completed musical I have seen at the fringe. With a fully rounded musical with story, costumes, props/small staging and dance routines. Has to be one of the best musical I have seen at the fringe it is up their with “Cathy and Stella solve a murder”. However unlike Cathy and Stella I don’t really see a place for this production outside of the fringe. The whole cast was amazing but “Dan Buckley” as Bill Gates steals the show for me. A very strong start to my 2025 fringe with an overall 4.5 out of 5 stars.
For more information about “Nerds…” click on the image above.

Ohio

Playing at venue 139 (Upstairs at Assembly Roxy) starting at 15:00 with a running time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. Although billed as a 15:00 start time, for this showing it was around 15 minutes late. Which meant that I had 5 minute turn around at the end of the show to catch my next,  on a google map journey time of 9 minutes. Luckily I made the next show by the skin of my teeth. “Ohio” provides an insight into the life of the two performers while concentrating on Shaun who is gradually loosing his hearing and has turned his back on his religious up bringing. There were a number of technical issues during the first section of the show, however they quickly rectified by the crew. The show utilised a Ed Sheeran esc loop panel which was used throughout the show to create all musical aspects of the show. At some points I did find the looping a little grating especially amoughst the many chants that occurred throughout the show for no real reason. The whole show seemed a little disjointed with no real clear story arc and the songs some of which were good did not add to the overall narrative. It did contain a surprising but very interesting science lesson around the cause of tinnitus which I found very interesting. The show is coming completing a very short tour including performances at the Young Vic. Overall I give the show 2 out of 5 stars.
For more information about “Ohio” click on the image above.

Shantify

Playing at venue 3 (Palais du Variete at Assembly George Square Gardens) starting at 16:35 with a running time of 1 hour. This show takes classic and modern pop songs along with musical theatre and “shantifys” them. Think “Choir of Man” but in a Shanty style, if you have liked Choir of Man you will love this. It contains a little more of a storyline based around a fisher harbour in western England and a pair of brothers and their friends. The songs fit perfectly the narrative and really make you listen to the lyrics so much more than you would even during the musical songs. There is not much else to say that it is a lot of fun with very talented performers. Towards the end of the show we were told that the ruction has secure a 2 show performance in the West End, which I highly recommend seeing. Overall the show is 4 out of 5 stars.
For more information about “Shantify” click on the image above.

NT Welcome drinks
The next stage of Day 1 was to make my way to “The Scotsman” hotel for the National Theatre Welcome drinks. Were I was able to catchup with other NT Patreon’s and NT staff on the trip to discuss what we have already seen and what is to come. After a few hours it was time to move onto my last show of Day 1.

She’s behind you

Playing at Venue 15 (Traverse 1 at Traverse Theatre) starting at 21:45 with a running time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. This was my last show of day 1 and first at the traverse this trip. There was around a 15 minute delay to the start of the show which was well worth the wait when it started. The show consists of Johnny McKnight one of Scotlands biggest and best pantomimes dame. The shows charts Johnnys journey through the pantomime dame world from his early 20s through to writing some of the most progressive pantos on stage today. The shows consists of the expected snippets of one Panto one liners. However there is a deeper more meaningful story of how changeling the pantomime and dame stereotypes is the only way to move forward. I came out of the show with a new found appreciation of pantomimes and not only how they are constructed but how they challenge wider cultural differences and opinion. This show is A perfect way to end any day at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and for that I give this show 4 out of 5 stars.
For more information about “She’s behind you” click on the image above.

And just like that day 1 of my Fringe 2025 trip is over. It’s been a long 18 hour and over 18.5 thousand steps kind of a day. Which started at the literal other end of the country and ends with me sat in my room at the Balmoral writing this final review.