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Fringe Report is now closed. Fringe Report closed on its 10th anniversary, Thursday 12 July 2012. It remains online as a record of 10 exciting years in the arts. Till July 2013, previously unwritten content is being added to the site from the past 10 years, but we are no longer reviewing new material. You can still write to us on the existing email addresses. Good luck with your shows.
Jet Set Go!
Verdict: Laugh-out-loud airplane musical
Jet Set Go! is a charming musical about 24 hours in the working life of a transatlantic aircraft cabin crew. It's well-written - book and lyrics by Jake Brunger and music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary - and has an extraordinarily talented cast.
The opening number sets the tone at once - punchy, camp, light and incredibly funny. Female cast wear smart blue jacket-and-skirt uniforms with red co-ordinating scarves and hats. Men wear purple shirts, orange ties and black suits. Costumes are by Enver Chakartash. It's a small venue and the set design by Mike Lees doesn't overwhelm it. There's a world atlas projected onto the back of the stage; for scene changes two flats with joining curtains are used to show inside the cabin. Luke Sheppard directs skilfully, exploiting the intimate space to bring actors into the audience, adding to the dynamic.
Two performances stand out: Tim Driesen plays new, young, enthusiastic pilot Paul believeably, with excellent vocals and comic timing on the money every time. Amy Coombes plays up-for-it Welsh woman Hayley, an experienced cabin crew member. Towards the end Amy Coombes's Hayley sings a solo about her love life, executed perfectly in a way that could make anyone cry with laughter - it steals the show.
All the characters could easily have been taken and played as two-dimensional clichés. But the cast play it tight, creating credible, rounded people, each with his or her own neuroses and emotions. Mark Evans's fine singing could fill an opera house with its power. John McManus as cabin crew Ryan delivers some great one-liners with strong stage presence. Laura Scott as love-sick Nicola; Danielle Corlass as new girl Melanie; Philip Riley as Jim the Captain are all extremely strong. The weakest delivery is Julia. There are lots of jokes about Julia's accent throughout the piece, but the accent given is so thick and over the top that at times it's hard to hear the words when the character sings.
Jet Set Go! is a highly entertaining comedy that's just right for a move to a large West End theatre. There's room for an ensemble to join this cast in the big numbers and the show would fill a major venue easily. It's laughing-out-loud theatre with the personality of an elephant.
Cast Credits: (alpha order): Amy Coombes - Hayley. Danielle Corlass - Melanie. Tim Driesen - Paul (First Officer). Mark Evans - Richard. John McManus - Ryan. Philip Riley - Jim (Captain). Laura Scott - Nicola. Emily Sidonie - Julia. Band: Piano / Conductor - Candida Caldicot. Violin - Noura Santian. Bass - Joe James / Kat Bax. Drums - Nick James.
Company Credits: Book & Lyrics - Jake Brunger. Music & Lyrics - Pippa Cleary. Director - Luke Sheppard. Choreographer - Luke Sheppard. Musical Director - Candida Caldicot. Production Designer - Mike Lees. Costume - Enver Chakartash. Lighting Designer - Edmund Sutton. Technical Operator - uncredited. Assistant To Designer - Ashley Bolitho. Set Construction - Frinton Fabrication. Company Stage Manager - Emma McKie. Assistant Stage Manager - Charlotte Snow. Casting - Harriet Robson. Press - Neil Eckersley (Presstitution). Producer - uncredited. Company - Take Note Theatre in association with Jermyn Street Theatre.
END
(c) Rebecca Talbot 2009
reviewed Thursday 2 April 2009 / Jermyn Street Theatre, London UK
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2013