Synopsis New Year’s Eve 1999 - the dawn of a new millennium. In an upscale New York loft apartment, twelve Manhattan socialites celebrate with an intimate dinner party, where new resolutions, past mistakes, and an uncertain future merge into one explosive and life-altering evening. With Kevin Hammonds’ trademark witty dialogue and a score from Charles Miller packed with show-stopping songs, this promises to be an unmissable production. Running time 2 hours 15 minutes including interval
This is sophisticated musical with a great book, some fine songs, a superb ensemble and a stunning use of this tiny space. The standard of singing is exceptional, though I would have liked all the music to be live (though I know it's impossible in this room, which already has a cast of 12, a pianist and an audience of 50!). It is rare to see a new musical so well developed and well staged. A treat! - Gareth James
29 Sep 07
We almost died from the heat - couldn't concentrate on the show at all. There's a glib and superficial book, many slick though bland numbers. Really excellent vocal work in some parts, but performances veer from adequate to crude burlesque (a comic striptease is jaw-dropping). A larger stage would have helped - this show's natural home is not a tiny venue like the Finbrough. - Mitch Warner
20 Sep 07
This has to be one of the best musicals I've ever seen - especially in Fringe. Great cast, terrific script with a plot that'll have you talking all through the interval, excellent music. Do yourself a favour - take someone to see this and they'll love you for it. - Dave Owen
17 Sep 07
We saw it at the first night, and while it had not settled, the signs were quite promising. The musical quality was high, with performers good to outstanding and a competent, consistent score (even if the lyrics tried too hard). Set at a Milennium party in New York, friends and lovers coming and going, it was a very segmented show: with a dozen different character stories to fill in through separate scenes and songs, and a tone wandering from strained emotion to clumsy farce, it was most comfortable in a smooth centre ground of civilised comedy. Shona White was excellent as a cyncial good-time girl and Ben Enright gave a great comic turn as a geek wooing a frumpy old maid. There were three or four strong numbers, all of them solos: it's a shame the act finales did not work, because the stage was too crowded when all the cast gathered, and the choreography was like a never-ending Rubik's cube puzzle shifting people around. The designer had cut down the acting area even more by including the pianist on stage (you got used to his head bobbing around behind the action). To be fair, there were several great visual moments, but the sophisticated air created by the set was undercut somewhat by some cheap-looking costumes and accessories. It was a fun evening, all in all, which the Finborough could make better by fixing up some air-con: we sweated all the way through, and so did the actors. - Jonathan Dalby
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