EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 2009 - REVIEW: SIX WAYS, George Square 2, August 12

Six Ways, a brand new show currently being staged by Sell A Door Theatre Company at George Square 2 in the Edinburgh Fringe, is a musical about perception - or rather about how people's perception of events and appearances can affect relationships. Pregnant wife Wendy's perception of her relationship with her husband Michael is coloured by her mistaken belief that he is having an affair. Despite his genuine love for his girlfriend Carly, Chris's perception of what real love consists of is clouded by his addiction to gambling. And the public perception of the scandalous revelation that rising star politician Diane's husband Daryl is a drag queen performer forces her to reassess the priorities in her life.

Quite complex themes for a musical - especially a musical by a young creative team (composer Michael Bradley/lyricist Paddy Clarke and librettist David Hutchinson) setting out to develop an innovative new piece of musical theatre. They don't completely pull it off - while the Diane/Daryl story is both powerful and thought-provoking (and has an authentic emotional and dramatic core that could be developed even more), the Michael/Wendy storyline is a little clichéd and I was not totally convinced by the Chris/Carly story either. Nevertheless it is a brave attempt and the score is not only melodically stirring but also works perfectly for the piece at every turn. And one song in particular - Daryl's drag act torch song, which satirizes a host of numbers from the great musical theatre songbook in a brilliantly witty way - is a genuine show-stopper.

The piece is directed with great subtlety of emotion by Gillian Lemon and played with both poise and raw energy by the highly talented young ensemble cast - Terri O'Ryan (Wendy); Paddy Clarke (Michael); Katie Bernstein (Carly); Adam Search (Chris); Victoria Hardy (Diane); and Sam Thackray (Daryl). In fact, Thackray's ability to underplay scenes at the right moment to evoke an authentic emotional response from the audience and then slap them in the face with blockbuster camp bravado is a knock-out performance.

This is a company that knows how to deliver a high quality production and this is a new British musical that all aficionados of musical theatre should relish experiencing.

****