Mouse Music & Anthems

Aug 9 2018 | By More

★★★☆☆     Singalong fun

St Andrew’s & St George’s West (Venue 111): Wed 8 – Sat 11 Aug 2018
Review by Sarah Moyes

From Disney to Broadway, Edinburgh Music Theatre pack hit after hit into a pair of fun and entertaining shows at St Andrew’s & St George’s West.

The first of the two is Mouse Music, a family-friendly tribute to Mr Walt Disney himself with much-loved songs from some classic Disney movies. The second, Anthems – From West End to Broadway does exactly what it says on the tin in a show packed with musical theatre’s biggest numbers.

Mouse Music in rehearsal. Pic: EMT EdFringe Edinburgh Music Theatre 2018

Mouse Music in rehearsal. Pic: EMT

Dressing in brightly coloured outfits for the early show, and with huge smiles on their faces, the company provide 50 minutes of songs that both children and adults can enjoy, including The Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins, and I Just Can’t Wait To Be King from The Lion King.

While all the songs chosen are from popular shows, its refreshing that EMT do not always make the most obvious choice. Instead of the very predictable and overplayed Let It Go from Frozen, Keith Macleod and Kirsty McLaughlin treat us to a refreshing and sweet cover of Love is an Open Door.


Other highlights include Jack Bruce and David Bartholomew’s clever mash-up of You’ve Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story with Friend Like Me from Aladdin, that makes you realise just how well the two songs work together, andEmma McFarlane’s beautifully sung rendition of How Far I’ll Go from Moana.

There are, however, a couple of moments when collective vocals can be a bit difficult to make out. As enjoyable as the performance of Under The Sea from The Little Mermaid might be, it does sound as if that is where it is being sung.

powerful vocals

For the late evening show the colourful outfits have been swapped for black clothing as it kicks off with Another Opening, Another Show from Kiss Me Kate.

Anthems in rehearsal. Pic EMT EdFringe 2018 Edinburgh Music Theatre

Anthems in rehearsal. Pic EMT

There’s an array of songs that popular musical theatre fans will love including the title song from Anything Goes, What is This Feeling from Wicked, and There’s No Business Like Show Business from Annie Get Your Gun.

Emma Watson, Hannah Clark, Lauren McAnna, Lily Pietrzak, Helen Young and Kirstin Breeze show off their powerful vocals in a fierce performance of Cell Block Tango from Chicago as female inmates describing just how they ended up in prison.

The highlight of the show comes in the form of a rather unexpected song choice, Alexander Hamilton from the musical of the same name. The music from the hit show is all sung and rapped, which gives Alex Kantor, Craig Mckirgan, David Bartholomew, Keith Macleod, Scott Kenneway, and Jess Gioia a chance to show a different side of the theatre company. One that it would be nice to see a little more of.

If you’re a fan of Disney and musical theatre, then these are the shows for you. But once again, Edinburgh Musical Theatre have provided two entertaining shows that any music-lover would enjoy.

Running times: 50 minutes each show (no intervals)
St Andrew’s & St George’s West (Venue 111), 13 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PA
Wednesday 8 – Saturday 11 August 2018
Mouse Music: 7.10pm; Anthems: 8.40pm.
Tickets for Mouse Music: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mouse-music
Anthems: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anthems-from-west-end-to-broadway.

EMT Website – http://www.edinburghtheatre.co.uk
Facebook – @edinburghmusictheatre
Twitter – @EdMusicTheatre

ENDS

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