Created by ComedySportz UK
Musical Direction by Felix Janeway and Laurie Freeman
Review by Annie Aslett
Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters
‘Confessions of a Hotel Cleaner: The Musical‘ is weirdly not the most niche musical title at this year’s Fringe. The Totally Improvised Musical team puts on a brand new show every evening, creating an hour-long musical spectacle from an audience suggestion (come prepared with a suitable title; the chosen one gets a pin).
Title acquired (although I would also have liked to see second-place suggestion ‘The Disappointing Bang‘), our players work through everyone’s first thought when considering hotel cleanliness with the vampy opening number ‘Don’t Turn on the Blacklight‘. Other highlights from this mayfly production included ‘I’m a Sexy Man/Oh My God (He’s Ripped)‘ and ‘The Bed of Love‘, as well as ‘The Bed of Love (Reprise)‘ and ‘The Bed of Love (Finale Megamix)‘. Given the nature of the beast, these bangers are now consigned to history. But if you like absurd silliness and musicals, the revolving cast of players is sure to bring the same joy every night. The stars of tonight’s production were Brainne Edge, Sean Mason and Chris Tajner, accompanied by musical director Felix Janeway (a deserved shout-out also went to doorman Joe, playing the vital role of keeping the door closed against the Saturday night crowd at Three Sisters). Janeway on Keys is the show’s offstage guide, listening intently for expositional notes upon which he encourages the performers to elaborate as he starts up a tune. Janeway is responsive and generous with this quick-thinking, moulding and complimenting of the performers’ whims.
Edge, Mason and Tajner are a triumphant trio, each getting big laughs and pushing the narrative forward. Edge strikes the perfect balance between off-the-cuff hilarity and actually-quite-well-constucted-given-the-genre songs, leading excellent solo numbers and vocally elevating songs from the side of the stage.
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing your niche interest or fantasy turned into a musical, take your title to the Totally Team. Will all of the lyrics rhyme? Not likely. Will all of the narrative threads be tied up? Don’t hold your breath. Will anyone take Confessions of a Hotel Cleaner: The Musical to the West End? Unfortunately not. Will you have a whale of a time? Undoubtedly, yes.
Review by Annie Aslett (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Annie is a not-so-recent graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a degree in French and Spanish, along with a Masters in Translation from the University of Glasgow. A Spanish teacher for three years, she decided to leave the classroom behind to pursue personal goals and has since been regularly reviewing for Corr Blimey’s Glaswegian wing. Annie is a life-long lover of musical theatre, whose childhood performances included a rousing production of Snow White in The Hall and a heartfelt rendition of Go, Go, Go Joseph in The Living Room.
