High camp at 35,000 feet.
Jet Set Go!
4/5
Take Note Theatre
Musical Theatre @ George Square. 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th August. 15:45 (1h15)
I'm hardly giving much away by saying Jet Set Go! Ð the Cabin Crew Musical Ð is rather camp. It's not for nothing that Caroline Reid has managed to build a pretty successful career as alter-ego Pam Ann swishing down the aisle serving glamour with barely concealed sexual innuendo. And if you are a fan of Pam Ann, then you're going to find it hard to resist this toe-tapping, wickedly funning offering from Take Note Theatre.
The action takes place on a flight to New York JFK from Heathrow, with an overnight stop and back again. There is frenetic activity as we prepare for take off, and some slick choreography and surprisingly clever harmony work at play here, revealing that this show is not necessarily going to be as shallow as first impressions may indicate. The sharply-written lyrics rattle through all the clichŽs frequent-flyers will be familiar with on boarding, and this opening number is perfectly pitched to get the full-to-busting crowd in the mood for their flight.
The crew are, for the most part, predictable stereotypes; gay male crew, blonde bimbos, oversexed pilots, snappy pursers; but the subject matter demands these strong characters to really work. And work it does. The strong cast deliver Pippa Cleary's score confidently, and with comic timing that shows they really understand this material. Above all, this is a comedy, and some of the gags get pretty cheap at times, but amongst the camp froth there's also moments of tenderness.
If there is any criticism of this show, then it would be that the Portacabin they are performing in isn't big enough to do them justice. The lighting Ð because of the challenge of the space Ð is very basic, and there is a feeling the show needs space to breathe. Judging by the sell out audience this show could sustain a bigger venue, and let's hope it does. I, for one, will be happy to see it grow beyond Edinburgh.
