With the hustle and bustle of the Edinburgh Fringe, sometimes an evening of familiar material is exactly what you need. Best of the West End delivers just that. Classic musical theatre tunes, performed well in an intimate setting by two talented performers.
Jasmine Alice, performer and writer of the show, and Sarah Alexandra Brown take to the stage for an evening of West End favourites. The premise is simple. Each night, the pair go head-to-head in a series of West End “battles”, with the audience deciding which performance wins. Categories include Best Golden Age Musical, Best Female Duet and Best Jukebox Musical.
Most of the time, the songs are performed as two-song medleys featuring both performers. While this works well, it would have been a great opportunity to hear each performer take on a full song individually. Both have impressive voices, and giving them a chance to really showcase themselves would have added another dimension to the evening.
The rounds offer a good mix of recognisable songs, and the audience clearly enjoys getting involved, enthusiastically shouting out their favourites. Some of the categories do feel like a bit of a stretch, though. For example, the “Best New Musical” category includes Come From Away, which premiered 13 years ago, and Six, which dates back to 2017. There was an opportunity here to include some genuinely newer material and perhaps introduce the audience to hit West End musical songs they may not already know. There is also, ultimately, no real consequence to the audience vote, as there isn’t a final “Best of the West End” winner. That said, it is still a fun way of getting the audience involved and gives the show a lively, interactive feel.
Of course, this is the Edinburgh Fringe, where everyone is trying to get their show seen among thousands of others. So, it’s completely understandable for the decision to use the finale as an opportunity to promote another Fringe musical written by Alice. However, ending Best of the West End with a ballad from a new Fringe show that many of the audience are unlikely to know felt like an odd choice. No discredit to the performers for wanting to promote another show, but even a quick singalong medley of West End favourites would have sent the audience out on a much higher note.
At times, the physical distance between the two performers also made the stage feel a little disconnected. Bringing them closer together and allowing more interaction between them could have created more chemistry and energy. Vocally, however, there is very little to fault. Both performers have impressive ranges and their harmonies are particularly strong. They clearly have the ability to deliver these songs, and the audience reaction throughout shows how much people enjoy hearing familiar favourites.
The show is selling out each evening at the Edinburgh Fringe, and it’s easy to see why. Best of the West End offers exactly what many Fringe-goers are looking for. Recognisable songs, talented performers and plenty of opportunities to sing along. It could benefit from a little more variety in its presentation and some fresher material, but ultimately, it’s an enjoyable evening of musical theatre nostalgia.
★★★
Gifted ticket in exchange for an honest review.