With fresh, funny songs this comic, compassionate song-cycle captures the struggles and triumphs of young adults moving into adulthood as they search for work, love, commitment and meaning.
Battling with conflicting emotions and expectations from family and friends, a group of young twenty-somethings start to confront the reality of moving into adulthood.
Mark is afraid of commitment, Sally is trying to be a modern woman, Amy thinks love is the answer and Jonathan is seeking to understand his identity.
With a narrative moving both back and forth throughout an eight-year period, the characters’ lifestyles interweave and alter as they start to confront the reality of moving into adulthood and learn to accept that relationships come and go.
A selection of press reviews
Edges is a rarity in the musical circuit. It doesn’t have a linear narrative to it, there are almost no scenes without talking, and the songs don’t so much move the story forward but talk about feelings at certain points in our lives. The whole idea is a selection of almost unrelated songs, where a group in their twenties express what they are going through at that point in life.
Thing is, one can certainly identify with at least one or two of the songs (if not all of them), which makes for a poignant viewing. Either a first love, a break up, the death of a family member, the insecurities about being in a relationship or knowing where life is taking you, the songs speak to the audience about everyday situations which we all go through.
Here’s a new musical revue with real edge, bite and occasional brilliance. Not since Jason Robert Brown’s song cycle Songs for a New World announced the arrival of that major theatrical songwriting talent, have I felt so sure I was witnessing the early flowerings of a duo from whom we are sure to hear more in the coming years.
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul only graduated from the University of Michigan, where they had met as freshmen, last year. Yet already they have written these touching, terrific vignettes of relationships and personal aspirations that each tell complete stories in themselves, yet are threaded together in a smart, sexy staging to chart the dovetailing of four young lives and loves.
These 13 songs pack serious emotion and wit into a short running time, proving that their authors know how to telescope both stories and feelings in song. So do the performers, who seize each of their moments in the spotlight.
- The Stage
The programme illuminates the worthy support across the musical world. This is another in a long line of musical and plays which examines relationships; how and why they work...and when they don't.
Edges is packed with funny, angry, and sad songs.
Although some of the songs are more universal, there is not a weak one in the bouquet. This is a show to see
and a writing duo to watch.
- The British Theatre Guide
STDs, Subway coupons and 'Sex and the City' are just some of the passing references in this smart modern musical. From a slightly schmaltzy opener, 'Edges' quickly moves into a series of fresh and funny songs which loosely follow four twenty-somethings trying to grow up. A sarcastic, perceptive humour invigorates numbers on Facebook addiction, gay boyfriends and wishing death by dysentery on an ex. ...Ultimately, though, the performances were polished and professional enough to make this a slick and sassy show.
- Three Week
"Consistently buoyant and clever songs [that] keep from feeling preachy."
- The New York Times
"Songwriting duo Pasek and Paul prove that musical theater is not nearly as lame as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elton John would have you believe."
- Time Out New York
"These lads look at these issues in ways that are refreshingly funny, sad, wise, human..."Edges" weaves a richly layered tapestry that looks at life with compassion, understanding and shrewd perspective... without pretension or self-absorption. There is nothing coy, cute or self-important about "Edges." These guys go about their business as if they've been writing musicals for years; as if they have some special wisdom about the dynamics of relationships, of life. Old souls."
- The Berkshire Eagle
Voted EDGES as the
"Best New Show for the Stage" in 2007)
"An impressive collection of character-driven songs...The light pop and theatre-styled music is accompanied by well-crafted lyrics that tell interesting stories, score some solid laughs and touch some lovely emotions..."
- Broadway World
"You'll want to be able to say you saw it when...It is, in every way, a fine piece of work, and yes it's made even more impressive by the fact that it was composed by a pair of ambitious college kids...Pasek and Paul have created a show that speaks directly to issues of youth, the way "Rent" did a decade ago. In doing so they have found universal appeal. ...these songs are worthy of Jason Robert Brown or Adam Guettel... even hints [of] Stephen Sondheim. No, really...See this show."
- Times Union
Battling with conflicting emotions and expectations from family and friends, a group of young twenty-somethings start to confront the reality of moving into adulthood.
Mark is afraid of commitment, Sally is trying to be a modern woman, Amy thinks love is the answer and Jonathan is seeking to understand his identity.
With a narrative moving both back and forth throughout an eight-year period, the characters’ lifestyles interweave and alter as they start to confront the reality of moving into adulthood and learn to accept that relationships come and go.
A selection of press reviews
Edges is a rarity in the musical circuit. It doesn’t have a linear narrative to it, there are almost no scenes without talking, and the songs don’t so much move the story forward but talk about feelings at certain points in our lives. The whole idea is a selection of almost unrelated songs, where a group in their twenties express what they are going through at that point in life.
Thing is, one can certainly identify with at least one or two of the songs (if not all of them), which makes for a poignant viewing. Either a first love, a break up, the death of a family member, the insecurities about being in a relationship or knowing where life is taking you, the songs speak to the audience about everyday situations which we all go through.
Here’s a new musical revue with real edge, bite and occasional brilliance. Not since Jason Robert Brown’s song cycle Songs for a New World announced the arrival of that major theatrical songwriting talent, have I felt so sure I was witnessing the early flowerings of a duo from whom we are sure to hear more in the coming years.
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul only graduated from the University of Michigan, where they had met as freshmen, last year. Yet already they have written these touching, terrific vignettes of relationships and personal aspirations that each tell complete stories in themselves, yet are threaded together in a smart, sexy staging to chart the dovetailing of four young lives and loves.
These 13 songs pack serious emotion and wit into a short running time, proving that their authors know how to telescope both stories and feelings in song. So do the performers, who seize each of their moments in the spotlight.
- The Stage
The programme illuminates the worthy support across the musical world. This is another in a long line of musical and plays which examines relationships; how and why they work...and when they don't.
Edges is packed with funny, angry, and sad songs.
Although some of the songs are more universal, there is not a weak one in the bouquet. This is a show to see
and a writing duo to watch.
- The British Theatre Guide
STDs, Subway coupons and 'Sex and the City' are just some of the passing references in this smart modern musical. From a slightly schmaltzy opener, 'Edges' quickly moves into a series of fresh and funny songs which loosely follow four twenty-somethings trying to grow up. A sarcastic, perceptive humour invigorates numbers on Facebook addiction, gay boyfriends and wishing death by dysentery on an ex. ...Ultimately, though, the performances were polished and professional enough to make this a slick and sassy show.
- Three Week
"Consistently buoyant and clever songs [that] keep from feeling preachy."
- The New York Times
"Songwriting duo Pasek and Paul prove that musical theater is not nearly as lame as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elton John would have you believe."
- Time Out New York
"These lads look at these issues in ways that are refreshingly funny, sad, wise, human..."Edges" weaves a richly layered tapestry that looks at life with compassion, understanding and shrewd perspective... without pretension or self-absorption. There is nothing coy, cute or self-important about "Edges." These guys go about their business as if they've been writing musicals for years; as if they have some special wisdom about the dynamics of relationships, of life. Old souls."
- The Berkshire Eagle
Voted EDGES as the
"Best New Show for the Stage" in 2007)
"An impressive collection of character-driven songs...The light pop and theatre-styled music is accompanied by well-crafted lyrics that tell interesting stories, score some solid laughs and touch some lovely emotions..."
- Broadway World
"You'll want to be able to say you saw it when...It is, in every way, a fine piece of work, and yes it's made even more impressive by the fact that it was composed by a pair of ambitious college kids...Pasek and Paul have created a show that speaks directly to issues of youth, the way "Rent" did a decade ago. In doing so they have found universal appeal. ...these songs are worthy of Jason Robert Brown or Adam Guettel... even hints [of] Stephen Sondheim. No, really...See this show."
- Times Union
THIS YEAR'S FRINGE FESTIVAL PRODUCTION:
EDGES
EDGES
