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★★★
Nearlyweds – The Musical is back at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, bringing the comedy musical about people-pleasing bride-to-be Lily (Sarah Alexandra Brown) and confused fiancé-to-be Jake (James Turner) to the festival stage. The pair of strangers are each at a crossroads in their lives and question whether their intended next steps are right for them after all. They each take a leap and change their direction, meeting an array of cheery characters along the way.
Thoughts on the narrative
The storyline is sweet and upbeat, with Lily and Jake interacting with a warm bunch of characters, such as Gail from Sales (Kate Leyva), who loves a chocolate bar-themed pun complete with actual props, and Brian from Accounts (Billy Robinson). There are some fun and humorous interactions along the way, even involving an audience member at one moment, but this could easily have been left out as it didn’t really add anything to the material. In this current iteration of the musical, there isn’t enough focus on the principal characters’ journeys for me. Lily and Jake’s stories each feel a little rushed, in favour of sharing the stories of all of these characters. 50 minutes in reality is such a short time to tell a story and the number of subplots in Nearlyweds makes it difficult to follow the overall direction of the narrative.
Music and lyrics
That being said, a highlight is Jasmine Alice’s songs, which have some charming melodies and reflective lyrics, starting with a number ‘Best Day Of My Life’, which really sets the scene for the piece. ‘Proud’ is also a really emotional number from Lily, showcasing the pressure the character feels to please others. I also really enjoyed the underscore throughout, giving the production a light and airy atmosphere.
Delightful but needs more depth
There are plenty of memorable characters and it is refreshing that this musical focuses on both platonic and romantic relationships, but in my opinion the predictable nature of the storyline and the character growth being somewhat rushed holds this piece back from truly soaring. It is brilliantly acted though and would still be an enjoyable and lighthearted addition to a Fringe schedule. You can catch Nearlyweds – The Musical at Venue 45 at theSpace @ Venue 45 until 29th August (not 23rd). Performances start daily at 13:50, with tickets available via the festival’s website.
*My ticket for Nearlyweds – The Musical was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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