Review: Edges The Musical | 3/5

SINGAPORE — The format of Edges The Musical is likely to surprise those expecting a full-on musical experience complete with plot, dialogue, fantastical sets and effects. The show belongs to a “new” form of musical theatre known as the song cycle — a series of songs presented one after another without pause, connected by a single theme.

Written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul when they were just 19-year-old undergraduates at the University of Michigan, the show won them the Jonathan Larson award in 2006 and has been presented in over 100 productions around the world.

There are some real gems in this collection of songs. The cycle’s most famous offering is Be My Friend — with its catchy exhortation for you to become “friend five hundred and five ... on the Facebook” — but there are others which are equally noteworthy for their tongue-in-cheek take on the surprises life can throw your way.

Man Of My Dreams (performed memorably by Mina Ellen Kaye, with hilarious bathrobe-clad support from Linden Furnell and Benjamin Kheng) will have you giggling uncontrollably at the growing dismay of the song’s protagonist as she gradually realises that the man of her dreams is not all she imagined him to be.

However, despite the memorable songs, I am not convinced that the song cycle format works as an alternative to the traditional musical. Without any dialogue, storyline or musical continuity between the songs, the song cycle feels like a motley collection of songs on a computer-generated playlist. The audience receives no guidance on its journey to discover the point of each song and its place in the cycle’s theme of life on the edge of self-discovery and growing up. It begs the question: “Why produce this as a show in the first place?”

As a showcase for young talent, Edges is unparalleled. Each of the young performers — Furnell, Ellen Kaye, Kheng and Kristy Griffin — had the chance to demonstrate the full range of their talents and did so with resounding success. All four were at their most engaging, though, during the encore when they finally let go of their nerves.

If Edges is all about being on the cusp of discovery, then I can think of no better cusp to be on than one of discovering fresh young talent to keep an eye on in the years ahead. KARIN LAI

Edges The Musical runs until April 19, 8pm, Drama Centre Blackbox. With a 5pm Saturday matinee. Tickets at S$38 from Ticketmash.sg.