Bohemians Reimagined

Aug 24 2018 | By More

★★★★☆   Entertaining

Stockbridge Church (venue 317): Wed 22 – Fri 24 Aug 2018
Review by Sarah Moyes

The Bohemians add a new twist to some of musical theatre’s most-loved songs in Bohemians Reimagined at the Stockbridge Church.

The show reimagines some of the biggest numbers in musical theatre, with a range from such well-known shows as Chess and A Chorus Line to newer ones that audiences may be less familiar with like Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen, neither of which has ever toured in Scotland.

The Bohemians on stage in Stockbridge Church. Pic: the Bohemians.

The Bohemians on stage in Stockbridge Church. Pic: the Bohemians.

The show opens with Hello from Book of Mormon, a very apt choice as the Bohemians wave their bibles around the church and introduce themselves on the stage.

As the show continues, it becomes clear that the reimagining going on will be at a more fundamental level than simple reinterpretation. The males in the company will take on the traditionally female parts and vice versa.


One of the finest examples of this is when Ross MacPherson, Douglas Anderson, Andrew Knox, Stuart Williamson, Christopher Cameron and Cameron Kirby become the cellmates in Chicago’s Cell Block Tango. It’s clever and fun interpretation of the classic song, and they certainly prove that they can give the usual female cellmates a run for their money.

Other highlights of the first act include an emotional and uplifting performance of You’ll Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen by Cathy Geddie, Christopher Cameron and Pamela Clilverd, while Lawrence Sharkey leads the cast on This Is Me from the blockbuster film The Greatest Showman.

Schadenfreude

As the second act gets underway, the male and female members of the cast switch roles again for a very entertaining performance of Summer Nights from Grease followed by a hilarious rendition of Avenue Q’s Schadenfreude by Douglas Anderson and Ross MacPherson and a beautiful cover by Heather Ridley of Being Alive from Company.

The Bohemians backstage in Stockbridge Church. Pic: the Bohemians.

The Bohemians backstage in Stockbridge Church. Pic: the Bohemians.

There is a risk that shows like this will just focus on the big numbers that many have heard before – which makes them a bit repetitive. So it is refreshing to see The Bohemians not always opting for the easy and most obvious numbers from the musicals on the list. It is more interesting for the audience when songs like Once We Were Kings from Billy Elliot make the set list.

This is the Bohemians first performance in Stockbridge Church, and the venue really suits the bigger numbers like Boulevard of Broken Dreams from American Idiot and the finale of It’s Your Wedding Day from The Wedding Singer. Itself, a nice nod to the company’s next production.

There’s no doubt that The Bohemians can put on a good show – a very entertaining a night for any musical fan.

Running time – 2 hours 15 minutes
Stockbridge Church (venue 317), 7b Saxe Coburg Street, EH3 5BN
Wednesday 22-Friday 24 August 2018
Evenings: 7.30pm
Tickets – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bohemians-reimagined
Bohemians website: http://bohemians.org.uk/
Facebook: @bohemiansedinburgh
Twitter: @Bohemians_Ed

The Bohemians present The Wedding Singer
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ.
Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 March 2019
Evenings: 7.30pm; Matinee Sat: 2.30pm/
Tickets and details: www.capitaltheatres.com/whats-on/weddingsinger.

ENDS

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  1. Ms Sheila Turner says:

    how do I buy tickets for Bohemians Reimagined show on 5/12/18 please?

    • Thom Dibdin says:

      Hello Sheila,
      I don’t think that there is a show on that date. This was an Edinburgh fringe production.