With no shortage of fairytale princesses at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, shows such as Disenchanted! and Bliss arrive with considerable fanfare. On a more modest scale, Charming! The Musical takes up residence at Just the Tonic, turning its attention away from the princesses and towards the man who usually finds himself relegated to the sidelines.
Created by Grownup Playhouse, this mostly one man musical follows Prince Charming as he argues that fairy tale history has given him a raw deal. While princesses get the songs, the adventures and the character arcs, Charming is often little more than a handsome accessory. Here, he finally gets the spotlight.
The score, co-composed by Joe Sartin, Michael Rincón, Adam Marké and Tom Rolph, affectionately parodies the Disney formula, delivering catchy melodies, soaring ballads and the obligatory “I Want” song. There is plenty of affection for the source material, and fans of classic animated musicals will recognise the influences throughout.
Guided by a genie inhabiting a lantern at the side of the stage, Charming is forced to confront his own shortcomings. He begins the show less as a hero and more as an entitled antagonist, happily referring to the audience as “peasants” and displaying an arrogance that makes him difficult to root for.
Rolph is a charismatic performer with an undeniably strong vocal presence, and his singing remains one of the production’s biggest assets. However, several songs outstay their welcome, stretching beyond their strongest ideas and allowing momentum to slip away.
Although billed largely as a one man show, the arrival of three princesses provides a welcome energy boost. Their brief appearance is enough to raise the question of whether the material might have benefited from a fuller ensemble approach. A similar issue arises with the Genie, who remains little more than a lightbulb for most of the running time before eventually appearing in physical form. The character’s stronger stage presence highlights how much earlier that transformation could have occurred.
By the finale, Charming assures us he has changed, but the journey does not quite provide enough character development to make that transformation fully convincing.
Charming! The Musical is built around an entertaining idea and features some enjoyable songs alongside a strong central performance from Rolph. Yet despite its charm, the show never quite fulfils the potential of its premise.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
