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Durham Fringe Festival 2024

Technically: A Musical

Technically: A Musical

Genre: Musical Theatre

Venue: The Assembly Rooms Theatre, Durham

Festival:


Low Down

“With more twists and turns than a badly-coiled cable, this brand-new student-written musical is sure to have you hot-glued to the seat! This is, after all, Technically: A Musical!” This bold musical tale of a backstage techie who seeks the limelight. A fully committed and very together cast bring this musical story to life and had the audience on their feet at the end.

Review

Technically: The Musical” is an enjoyable, lean-in, musical fable that delves into, and lifts the lid with much comedy and sharp observation into the usually hidden world of theatre technicians, affectionately known as “techies.”

This show brings to light the hidden lives of those who work behind the scenes, celebrating their dreams and struggles. The narrative revolves around a techie with aspirations to step into the spotlight, offering a touching and humorous exploration of breaking free from the confines of backstage life.

The show is filled with in-jokes that will resonate with anyone familiar with the workings of a theatre, providing a delightful layer of insider humor. The songs and lyrics are well-written, drawing from a broad range of Broadway influences, from 1950s classics to the modern rap of musicals like “Hamilton.” Each song contributes to the narrative, with standout moments such as “Epiphany,” which evokes the style of a 1950s pastiche, and “I Wanna Be in the Spotlight,” a heartfelt anthem of ambition. The show rises to a rousing finale that had the home crowd on its feet.

Some aread need further development. The acting needs to be elevated to truly bring the characters to life, as the current performances feel more like actors  in some places reciting lines than embodying their roles fully. This lack of depth makes it difficult for the audience to fully connect with and care about all of the characters. Lengthening the dramatic scenes just a little would give us needed back story on those characters and enabling we, as audience, to invest more emotionally in the story. Additionally, more clarity is needed in both acting and singing to ensure that the story is conveyed effectively. Mostly the singing is tight, full-bodied on spot on musically. In other places, there’s a lack of clarity and it is harder to make out the lyrics. The choreography,  in some of the songs is very well realised and the troup really take flight.

Despite these areas for improvement, “Technically” offers genuinely touching moments, a simple, recognisable archetypal story of doing what we really dream to do. The song “Gaffa Tape” showcases strong harmonies, while the power-ballading sound technician provides a particular highlight. The show also cleverly uses the symbolism of stage left and stage right to represent human connection and the breaking of traditional boundaries. These motifs add nuance to the simple narrative. Energy never flags for a moment. My feet were tapping, I felt for the main characters and I wanted (and expected) a happy ending.

This is an entertaining musical that shines a light on the unsung heroes of theatre – the techies. With a bit more polish in the acting and staging, it has the potential to be a truly memorable production. Its well-crafted songs and unique focus on techies provide a fresh perspective in musical theatre, making it a show worth seeing for both theatre insiders and general audiences alike. Overall, this is show brimming with good things with full-hearted (and throated) performances, some hilarious one liners about techies, and just enough story to keep us engaged.

Published