Edinburgh Fringe Review: Fresher – The Musical

It isn’t difficult to like Fresher: The Musical and with its second staging at the fringe festival they team behind it can relax and be happy in the knowledge that they have staged one of the best fringe shows of 2011.

The story follows five freshmen students as they embark on their first year at university. Rupert, Tuc, Basil, Hayley and Ally who become instant housemates and instant friends. The audience is taken on a journey of discovery the freshers experience as well as the ups and downs of 5 strangers forced to live together. The musical handles some of the issues many freshers face at university and does so in a humorous way and light hearted way. The scenes in which Basil (James Darch) comes out to his flatmates and Hayley’s (Grace Ecclesons) medication is handled carefully and respectfully. Due to time there is only so much the production can touch on and when they do focus on them they do so with maturity.

Fresher: The Musical works so well lies in the detail of well formed characters, and a cast of actors who have been well guided by the production team. With some productions, and not just exclusively student ones, there can be a risk of forgetting certain things and letting things drop meaning they can put the whole production at risk. The choices they make in the pre-production are essential in having a successful final product.

The decision to have a live band on stage could have backfired as the stage area wasn’t the biggest and with live singing the band could have drowned out the actors. Yet it was a decision that worked well for the production and was a classic touch that never cheapened the production.

Special note has to be given to Dan Buckley “Rupert” who delivered some of the funniest lines of the musical. Yet the five actors together are so strong, believable, and realistic and own their characters.

For any student group, small, medium or large, who hope to come to the fringe and make an impact watching Fresher: The Musical would be essential. This is a smart, mature, and passionate production with a cast who are not only convincing in their roles but relish in them. This is one of the top 3 student productions and an undeniable fringe hit.