There are some big questions floating around in the world: what is the meaning of life? Why are we here? What came first? The chicken or the egg? To name but a few. And, of course, that big question on everyone’s lips. Is a Jaffa Cake a cake, or a biscuit? Well, let us turn to Gigglemug to tell us the answer to that one.
Based on the famous 1991 court battle between McVities and HMRC, Gigglemug’s A Jaffa Cake Musical takes the trial, packs it full of fun catchy songs, squeezes in comical back stories and leaves you with a huge smile on your face.
Penned by Sam Cochrane, who also plays newly qualified lawyer Kevin, hired to represent Jaffa Cake maker Jake (Harry Miller), this clever, funny, musical fits perfectly into the Pleasance two with its five person cast and quick changes.
Kevin’s parents (Katie Pritchards and Alex Prescot) dream of a life of musical stardom for their son, but he dreams of serious court cases and putting criminals behind bars. But instead, his first case is to prove that a Jaffa Cake is, in fact, a cake in order to save the company from being forced to pay tax as is the case for chocolate covered biscuits. Cochrane and Miller make a delightful double act, desperately trying to prove their point in a number of charming catchy tunes. Sabrina Messer’s Katherine takes every trial very seriously, even if that means setting out to prove that a Jaffa Cake is a biscuit, with hilarious results. Her ‘Fork’ number is a showstopper.
Katie Pritchards moment in the spotlight comes in the form of her role as The Taxman, an entire system personified in one character with a song that will be stuck in your head for quite some time. Playing the keyboard as the audience enters the venue and throughout, even when crouching behind said keyboard for a sneaky costume change, is Alex Prescot, who has the audience in stitches as the comical judge of the case. A memorable performance for sure.
Throughout, cast members become a variety of different characters including a wonderful Greek chorus that help to guide the story along. You would be forgiven for thinking that a musical about a snack food (you can decide whether it’s a cake or a biscuit) would be simple and would perhaps struggle to fill an hours running time, but Gigglemug have constructed something that truly works. In fact, if back stories were built upon and more characters given larger plot points, the story itself could probably be bulked out further into something bigger.
Yes it’s silly, it’s the story of an apparently serious court case but something as seemingly simple as cake or biscuit, but it is the silliness that allows it to work so brilliantly. The songs are funny and full of surprises, the characters are believable and the story flows nicely. You will be left smiling and humming, and the jokes delight audiences of any age. It’s really no surprise that this show has been a sell out day after day.
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