
Edmund: The Beginning is a one-man investigation of the emotional range of performance in the traditional vein, an exploration of fascination and despair at human limitations.

The audience goes wild at the onset, clearly knowing they are in for a wonderful ride as Jean Valjean bursts onto the stage with all the fight and fervor, fear and feistiness that only a prisoner, recently set ‘free’ after stealing bread to feed someone else, can muster.

Overall I wasn’t quite sure what I was meant to be seeing. Was it a vehicle to entertain family and friends of the choir? A preview to gain support for a full staging? A vehicle to showcase some fine voices from a multiplicity of genres?

Briefs the show, turns out to be an irreverent look at the world of burlesque or Boy-lesque as some of the promos describe the show.

Thanks to fine performances from the entire cast, St. Jude’s version of Soulmates largely strikes the deceptively difficult balance between satire, spiteful revenge and comedy.

Next to Normal was a triumph both in production and performance. May they be rewarded with full houses and standing ovations.