Words: Elodie Marriott
4 Star
Meet the world’s hottest new boy band Man!fest. They’ve got everything tweenage girls and fringe-goers will love and more: purity ring scandals, internal strife exposed on stage, and barely concealed homoerotic tension.
Like all great heartthrob quartets, the group is comprised of the bad boy, the nepo poet, the jock, and innocent one. These caricatures are played with informed precision, which allows their superb one-liners to land with maximum comedic impact. The show shines even brighter due to the four’s chemistry, and each plays to their strengths during their time in the spotlight. Even the biggest stan would find it difficult to pick a bias out of this standout cast.
The original musical numbers expertly spoof the kind of ultra-processed serenades that live in our guilty pleasure playlists and require a temporary shutdown of feminism to enjoy. Man!fest may “leave you on read for days~” but you’ll certainly have these parodic 1D bangers in your head for the same length of time. Between the chest pumping, hip thrusting choreography, the band ensure to make Y/N’s dreams come true by maintaining intense flirtatious eye contact with the audience in every performance. It’s embarrassingly thrilling.
While the band may have been manufactured by scheming executives to make “girls feel bad about themselves,” it’s clear that Man!fest: The Drag Boyband Musical was created with love and wit, and succeeds in hooking fans from the first song. Can’t wait for the tour!
MAN!FEST: The Drag Boyband Musical
The Green at Pleasance Courtyard
16.00
5-30 Aug