Written & Produced by Sam Cochrane
Arrangements & Musical Direction by Rob Gathercole
Directed by Ali James
Review by Annie Aslett
A Jaffa Cake Musical is well packaged and presented, but there are questions about its substance. Ring any bells?
The creative team at Gigglemug are no strangers to an original, branded musical, with previous shows inspired by brands from Timpson to the Scouts. Now, see them take on the eternal debate: is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit? The story is based on the 1991 legal dispute between McVities and the HMRC, intended to decide whether Jaffa Cakes were a biscuit, therefore subject to VAT, or not. When your backstory requires the phrase ‘subject to VAT’, you know you’ve got your work cut out for you, entertainment value-wise.
Order in the court! You’ve probably heard this debate in the pub!
The prosecution’s arguement: size, presence in the biscuit aisle, manner of eating.
The defence: ingredients, dunkability, and texture when left out.
If you think each of these arguments won’t get its own song, think again. Writer Sam Cochrane gave himself a fun, if challenging, job here, tasked with filling an hour-long run time with a debate that is fairly easily summed up. But fill it he does, with thirty original songs penned by Cochrane and musical direction and arrangements by Rob Gathercole. The songs are well-constructed and fun if fairly basic musical theatre fodder – Cochrane clearly spent a lot of time with his rhyming dictionary, which only occasionally veers into the cringe. The soundtrack occasionally feels like a tour of Cochrane’s modern musical inspirations; the courtroom debates are straight out of Hamilton’s Cabinet Battle #1/2, and a Jaffa Cake dream sequence smacks of Spooky Mormon Hell Dream. Highlights include All Rise, Tax Man and Who I Lived My Life For, brought to life by the vivacious and talented cast. The five-strong ensemble throws themselves into every song, their commitment and confidence infectious and necessary to sustain the ludicrous simplicity of the premise for an hour.
Alex Prescot is a constant life force on stage from the moment you walk in, skilfully accompanying his fellow cast live on the keyboard throughout, even when he has to swap out a wig. Writer Cochrane is charming as in-over-his-head defence attorney Kevin, selling his story with West-End-worthy professionalism. Joining Kevin in the defence box is Harry Miller as Jake, creator of Jaffa Cakes, working in perfect (and literal) harmony with Cochrane as the actors deliver a convincing and heartfelt performance of their tumultuous relationship. Sabrina Messer puts in an exhausting shift as prosecutor Katherine, given the most to do both vocally and choreographically, though she is clearly in her element and makes the relentless role look effortless. Katie Pritchard rounds out the ensemble, a powerhouse as the Tax Man, stunning with crystal clear high notes when she’s not evoking Lea DeLaria with her rocky growl.
The joy of A Jaffa Cake Musical is in its premise, the attention-grabbing concept that just manages to bear out the hour, eked out by Cochrane’s well-constructed writing and driven home by the stellar cast. A perfect show for families to enjoy together, the show has been selling out across its Fringe run, so be sure to nab the last few tickets to see this fun-filled romp (and a Team Cake or Team Biscuit sticker at the end).[]”
A Perfect Show For Families
The Jaffa Cake Musical runs at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, until August 26th.
Running time – One hour without an interval
Photo credit – Ben Wilkin
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.
