Come Dine with Me: The Musical
Book and Lyrics by Sam Norman, Music by Aaron King
Underbelly Bristo Square (Cowbarn), Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 6 August 2024
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A step up in quality from the usual fringe offerings, Come Dine With Me: The Musical is a light-hearted, feel-good new musical bursting with West End talent. Based on the endlessly popular Channel 4 reality TV cooking show 'Come Dine WIth Me' known for its witty voiceovers and madcap contestants, the musical is likewise full of weird and wonderful characters hoping to beat the culinary competition to the cash prize.
Everything you know and love about the TV programme is present and correct - from the overly competitive participants, to terrible menu choices, bitching and backstabbing, and even the scores given in a taxi on the way home. But 'Come Dine with Me the musical' goes one step further and permits us access to the goings on behind the camera. In fact the whole story centres around a production trio who are attempting to film the show's 1000th episode and make it a ratings bonanza.
The production team start work long before the action on stage does; they weave amongst the audience as they take their seats in the auditorium. It's a brilliant way to raise the intrigue and atmosphere in the room as it fills up. Hapless sound engineer Teddy (Harry Chandler) literally falls over himself trying to get the best acoustic shot from the crowd; Chandler is a brilliant physical comedy performer and he must be covered head to toe in bruises. Known for playing Enjolras in Les Mis in London's West End, Chandler steals every scene he's in and makes for a compelling leading man who easily had everyone in the room on his side.
All five of the contestants are brilliant, each with their own ideas about what makes up the perfect dinner party menu, and each with a song about it to boot! The storyline is so much fun and has the added interest of some sabotage to go along with the usual dietary disagreements. I particularly loved Duncan's song singing the praises of pork pies - a perfect juxtaposition to the vegan menu that had come before. Sam Norman's script is full of genuinely funny one liners and smart comedy observations like this woven into the songs. It's refreshingly and unapologetically joyful.
The exceptional cast give every line and every song their all, and together their voices are stunning. The cherry on top of the icing on the cake though is the wonderful Kim Ismay who is unrecognisable yet utterly delicious as Barbara.
Full of promise, Come Dine with Me: The Musical is cooking up a storm but yet it still has room to grow. The fringe version is only one hour long and there is opportunity for expanded storylines, more extravagant sets and, dare I say, maybe even some actual cooking! But as it stands, this is an excellent pick for any musical-theatre or reality TV lover during the Edinburgh Festival season. You're in safe hands with this production company and you're unlikely to find a better cast anywhere else at the fringe.
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🍽️ Come Dine With Me: The Musical plays at Underbelly Bristo Square (Cowbarn) until 26 August 2024. And it has just been announced that Come Dine With Me the musical will transfer to The Turbine Theatre in London for a limited run this September! | jump to listings info here
🩷 Read my review of I Wish You Well - The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical here - Paul Taylor Mills other brand new musical debuting at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024
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Come Dine With Me: The Musical Cast & Creatives
Tom Bowen Roy
Harry Chandler Teddy
Danielle Coombe Mary
Paul Hazel Duncan
Sophie Hutchinson Janey
Kim Ismay Barbara
Leo Udvarlaky Ernest
Writer and Lyricist Sam Norman
Composer Aaron King
Co-creator Nell Butler
Co-creator Genevieve Welch
Producer Paul Taylor-Mills
Directed by Andrew James Beckett
Lighting by Matt Hockley
Design by David Shields
Sound Designer Dan Samson
Musical Director Cheng Kan Ong
Come Dine With Me: The Musical 2024 Edinburgh dates
Underbelly Bristo Square (Cowbarn)
31 July - 26 August (not 13) | Time: 14:20
🎟️ Tickets from £11: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/come-dine-with-me-the-musical
⌚ Running time: 60 minutes | ⚠️ Age Recommendation 12+
Come Dine With Me: The Musical 2024 London!
The Turbine Theatre, London
From Saturday 7th September 2024
🎟️ Tickets from £34: https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/come-dine-with-me-tickets
Come Dine With Me: The Musical review, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, Paul Taylor-Mills, Underbelly.
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🎟️ Disclosure: I am an Edinburgh Festival Fringe accredited media reviewer and as such I receive complimentary press tickets in exchange for my honest reviews. My reviews and star ratings are always my honest opinions.
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