Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh
Time to decide once and for all... cake or biscuit? Inspired by the 1991 tribunal which determined the true identity of a Jaffa Cake, multi-award winning Gigglemug Theatre (Scouts! The Musical, RuneSical, Timpson: The Musical) present a brand-new family-friendly musical comedy that takes the biscuit (or cake...?).
There is one vital question that has been of hot topic since the beginning of time. It divides families, and ruins friendships as people speak about the issue in hushed reverent tones, nervously waiting to find out if you can possibly go on a second date with your new tinder match: is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit?
Jaffa Cakes are a much loved snack enjoyed around the world, comprising of a controversial base and covered in chocolate, filled with a a trademark disk of jelly made from the famously sweet Israeli orange, hailing from the city of Jaffa in Tel Aviv. They are produced by cake and biscuit brand McVitie’s, who cleverly kept very quiet around the issue, using the debate to fuel their marketing campaigns. Until 1991 that is, when they were forced to finally break their silence on the controversy and declare the true identity of the Jaffa Cake as a cake when HMRC hit them up with a hefty tax fine, arguing that the snack was in fact a biscuit, meaning it is subject to VAT, whereas cake is not. McVitie’s would not stand for its creation’s identity being disrespected in this way and stood their ground, leading to the argument ending up in court.
It is from this famous trial that the Jaffa Cake musical has emerged, bringing the debate to life in a delightful hour of musical joy, written, composed, and orchestrated by absolute musical and comedy genius Sam Cochrane, with arrangements by Rob Gathercole and a sensationally talented cast of 5, including Sam himself as Kevin alongside Harry Miller as Jake, the perfect comedy double act for this show. The characters complement each other perfectly, one as relaxed as the other is neurotic and both seem rather hopeless. Alongside calm, intimidating, and totally unflappable Katherine (Sabrina Messer) they seem to have not a hope in hell of success. Sabrina embodies the rather relentless role with grace and assured ease, exuding confidence and seemingly endless versatility. Towards the end of the show she has a tear jerker of number entitled ‘Who I Lived My Life For’ which, combined with her killer vocals, give a beautiful extra layer of depth.
Alex Prescot not only plays the character of the Judge, but also totally rocks on piano live on stage throughout the show. I will never stop talking about the endless awe and respect I have for actor-musicians and Alex does it all brilliantly with a very similar air to award-winning composer Alex S Bermange (I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical).
Each character has been carefully crafted to exist alongside the storyline, rather than just to aid it, and for a one-hour fringe musical the detail and development in each character is astonishing, something no doubt achieved by the performers themselves alongside director Ali James. You can feel even from the audience that this show is undoubtedly a very collaborative team effort, with every delicious morsel full of heart, soul, and passion.
Stuffed to the brim with toe tapping tracks, the soundtrack has been living rent free on repeat in my head for days (Sam, can we have a cast recording PRETTY PLEASE?) with a personal favourite being ‘The Tax Man’, a number and character both products of pure comedy brilliance, which demands a lot from its execution. But no fear, Katie Pritchard in drag could not be a more perfect choice and boy, does she live up to the challenge, having the entire audience in stitches with her portrayal of the elusive ‘Tax Man’ that haunts the nightmares of every UK resident. There was also a winning showstopper made out of the jaw-dropping moment that sealed the deal in court that absolutely takes the cake.
The show is unquestionably ready to hit the professional theatre circuit, the whole company and team at Gigglemug have tasted sweet success with this latest in their series of sensational creations.
Are you #TeamCake or #TeamBiscuit? Let us know!
You can book tickets to A Jaffa Cake Musical, here.
Review by Rachel
**photo credit: Ben Wilkin**
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