Keith Jack & WOS’s Michael Coveney Stop Show!
August 12, 2009
Whatsonstage.com chief critic Michael Coveney is getting rather more involved than most critics at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. In addition to all the other reviews he’s been filing this week, he’s written a review of the “perfect musical”. The catch is, it doesn’t exist – or won’t until tonight (Wednesday 12 August) at 10.50pm at the Musical Theatre @ George Square.
Michael’s review will form the basis for tonight’s performance of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical. At the beginning of the night, Michael will hand over his review –including the show’s title, storyline and musical styles - to Showstopper’s onstage director Dylan Emery.
He and the rest of the audience will then witness as, over the next 70 minutes, it takes form before the eyes. Until tonight, the contents of Michael’s fictitious review remain a closely guarded secret. But tomorrow, we’ll publish both the original piece, as well as Michael’s verdict on the Showstopper troupe’s improvised result.
Michael’s perfect musical is one of only three critic-invented Showstoppers at this year’s Fringe. The other critics’ shows will take place on 19 August (Thom Dibdin, a former Whatsonstage.com reviewer who now writes for the Edinburgh Evening News and The Stage) and 26 August.
Celebrity matinees
In addition to the regular nightly slot, Showstopper! will present two special guest matinees during its Edinburgh season. Dalkeith native and Any Dream Will Do finalist Keith Jack, who starred in the musical Only the Brave at George Square last August, will perform in the first at 2.50pm on Monday 17 August.
The celebrity guest for the second matinee on 24 August has yet to be announced. Previous guest shows have featured Matt Lucas, Mark Ravenhill, and Mike McShane.
Premiered at last year’s festival, led by the late Ken Campbell, Showstopper! has since had regular stints at London’s King’s Head and Leicester Square theatres. The company comprises: Chris Ash, Duncan Walsh Atkins, Ruth Bratt, Julie Clare, Dylan Emery, Pippa Evans (If.comedy Newcomer nominee 2008), Sean McCann, Adam Meggido, Philip Pellew, Oliver Senton, Nathan Taylor and Lucy Trodd.
- Terri Paddock
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EIF: 14 August-6 September
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