Book, Music & Lyrics by Rachael Mailer

Directed by Robyn Lexi

Dramaturgy by Hannah Sands

Review by Annie Aslett

Underbelly, Bristo Square: Tickets

Rachael Mailer is the writer and star of queer musical comedy Diary of a Gay Disaster. Mailer plays Ellis, who wakes up in a fever dream from the Gods of Sapphic Desire. Tally Soames and Kip Jackson play Mia and Finlay, who also find themselves stuck in this “dreamworld of gay crisis”. Guiding them on their journey and helping them understand their queer trauma is the Diary – absorbing their essences and forcing them to relive past experiences to lead them towards healing. This open format allows Mailer to delve into a wide range of topics that plague the worlds of lesbian dating, growing up queer and being non-binary in a binary world.  

This show is hilarious. Play lesbian infatuation bingo (Cate Blanchett, Miss Honey, Sarah Paulson, post-Twilight Kristen Stewart) as we are swept through the struggles of dating women and trying to work out whether they’re gay or not (she has a carabiner keyring!). Cackle as Mia recounts her boyfriend being made redundant after suggesting a threesome. Some members of the audience clearly felt very seen during ‘Level Up’, the song about the hyper-speed nature of lesbian relationships. These themes and so many more are brought to life through Mailer’s dynamic and diverse songs, with musical direction by Olivia Zacharia. Though firmly by the gays, for the gays, any and all demographics will find humour in the tightly-written script (courtesy of Mailer and dramaturg Hannah Sands) that is so well-executed by this outstanding cast.

Mailer is chameleonic as Ellis, an absolute delight as they veer between accents with utter commitment. You can tell Mailer is in their element and having a ball – it must be such a pleasure for Mailer to perform their work to such a supportive audience who are laughing, crying, screaming and cheering throughout. Soames is a whirlwind of energy, playing Mia with a permanent cheeky grin, comically antagonistic towards Finlay, with whom they share a history. Jackson’s Finlay is mild-mannered yet self-assured, and Jackson is magnetic on stage, their frustration incredibly moving as they talk about the erasure of non-binary people even within the queer community, illustrated by the show itself. Though upbeat, this musical has a lot of important things to say, and Mailer has created a poignant and well-balanced blend of music and message.  

It would be remiss not to mention the sheer quality of vocal talent on display among this cast. The cast are strong singers in their own right and mind-blowing when they harmonise, blending seamlessly through some unexpected yet awesome riffs. Between this production, Diva: Live From Hell and Pop Off, Michelangelo, 2024 is the year of exceptional, original queer musicals at the Edinburgh Fringe. Diary of a Gay Disaster is an absolute pleasure to experience and not to be missed.

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