Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist – Review

Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist: The Other Palace, London

21st September 2024

★★★★

Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist follows in SIX’s footsteps and aims to bring an iconic historic figure to life using a multi-genre pop score. After successful try-out performances at The Lyric Theatre in 2023 this brand new musical is back. The production retells a story that sparked a revolution: Marie Antoinette’s reign was blighted by gossip and scandal. But when she is implicated in a crime to defraud the crown jewellers of a diamond necklace, it is not just her reputation at stake, but the monarchy and France itself.

Unfortunately, this production has just announced it is cutting its London run short which is surprising as it is such a high energy, fun musical and fits the current trend of the demand for more of a pop-concert style musical. Renée Lamb is superb as Jeanne. She guides the audience through the one act show, setting the scene and showing what happened to Marie Antoinette and her own character, Jeanne Comtesse de La Motte. Vocally, Lamb has great range and is able to use this to really add to her character and engage the audience. The original songs by Tasha Taylor Johnson and Jack McManus are energetic, powerful and often very funny. Zizzi Strallen owns the stage whenever she is on. Again, vocally she is amazing but it is the humour and comic timing with which she delivers her lines that really impresses. Travis Ross also stands out as Cardinal and his song ‘Very Important Man’ is hilarious.

Christopher Tendai’s choreography is modern and well performed by the ensemble cast who rarely leave the stage. The stage itself (set designed by Sami Fendall) is completely bare except a circular raised platform which is manually moved forward and back. Whilst this works it could definitely be built upon to have more impact. Joshie Harriette’s lighting and video design by Matt Powell helps to bring the stage alive and increase the energy of the show. The story is pacy and builds steadily to its conclusion. There are small moments when the audience start to see the real side to the characters and see their relationship grow but this show is mostly focused on big show numbers and allowing the audience to have a good time. It is certainly fun, high energy and contemporary, despite focusing on an event which happened in the late 1700’s.

Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist is full of superb vocals, sexy choreography and manages to bring a 300 year old story to life in the most unique way. This is a perfect show for a fun night out and is lively enough to start the party. Whilst it is sadly closing early at The Other Palace, the cheers and grins from the audience suggest there is more life in the show yet. Perhaps a little more workshopping to build on the characters, some more scenes to help develop their relationships and this show could come back even stronger.

Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist runs until the 29th September 2024. For more information and tickets click here.

Photo Credit: Mark Senior (photos are of the 2023 try-out performances)