Fresher- The Musical

Fresher’s week - A nervewracking and exciting time for many a bushy-tailed and bright-eyed adolescent. The combination of freedom from parents and new relationships - all tinged with a hint of alcohol - has the potential to create a unique and charming musical; and Fresher does not disappoint.

This original musical follows five students’ first experiences of university life; coping with hormonal urges, self representation and the lure of alcohol. The vocally strong cast blends flawlessly as an ensemble, whilst conveying their own perhaps stereotypical characters during solo numbers. Natasha Barnes – playing a high maintenance, attention seeking Ally – shines in the seventh number of the piece. An unlikely romance blossoms throughout the piece between the buoyant Tuc (Andrew Bryant) and the slightly neurotic Hayley (Nicola McQuillan), transforming their characters into almost rounded individuals. Mark Lawson as Basil provides this musical with a touching solo concering self identity, as ‘chundering’ Rupert (Steven Aspinall) caters to much of the humour rife throughout the piece.

Mark Aspinall, composer and lyricist of Fresher, has cleverly constructed a score with complimenting lyrics that add subtance and depth to five diverse students. However, when certain songs make light of their own musical genre, problematic inconsistency is created due to many of the other songs being in an aurally similar style. Nonetheless, the faultless band made up of Ian Bailey, George English and the composer himself is a brilliant accompaniment to the engergetic cast.

A witty script, with an abundance of references to today’s facebooking, binge drinking and celebrity obsessed generation interjects the musical numbers; although this culture-specific banter perhaps prevents Fresher from remaining relevant to future audiences. This piece accurately mirrors the terrifying and cringeworthy experience that is freshers itself in a polished, audience pleasing and enjoyable performance.