The Harmonettes, an established female singing trio, transport us back to 1955 for a musical comedy starring ‘three crazy cat women in harmony’ that depicts the true meaning of friendship.
This is a new musical - written specifically with the trio in mind - charting the rise of a fictional group that parallels the girls themselves and culminates in their Edinburgh performance. The performance even includes some participation from some male audience members, an interaction rife with improvised humour. The style really embraces the fifties in terms of staging, costumes, music, and script for an hour of authentic retro fun.
This is also an overtly feminine show. Our three protagonists are stereotypical of ‘woman realm’: an airhead Monroe wannabe who speaks in teenage slang; a homely wife and mother enthralled by tupperware; and an aspiring astronaut with her nose firmly in her books. The script is cliched and the acting a little over the top, but although the characters never escape these stereotypes the performances are enjoyable all the same.
It is, however, clear that the trio really excel at singing. The songs are all taken from the 50s and include post-war ballads, jazz numbers, and rock and roll familiar to the predominantly older audience. The singing is warm and gentle, with a beautiful blend of voices and tight harmonies. Though sometimes a little weak when singing solo, the girls are at their best when singing together acapella.
The Harmonettes put on a derivative but enjoyable show, in which art imitates life in light-hearted comic fashion.
