‘Queerness, cowboy hats, and complete emotional catharsis.’
‘Little Pink Dress’ is a one-man musical “traumedy” written/performed by New York-based artist Joey Jennings, and directed by Coral Cohen. It explores themes of queerness, searching for one’s dreams in the cutthroat creative industry, and connecting with your inner child. This production features originally composed music performed by Jennings, who has a voice that one can only describe as a bass that has been drenched in honey; offering a sweet serenade that is deeply soulful and rich.
From start to finish, this musical is incredibly captivating, delivering a series of life moments clearly inspired from Jennings’ own personal experiences of growing up as a gay man in a single-parent household. The production is structured more as an amalgamation of life moments than a rigidly chronological story, but this is what makes ‘Little Pink Dress’ feel authentic and human, giving it its charm. Jennings truly immerses the audience in such a bittersweet atmosphere through his storytelling; joyous moments are heartwarming, funny moments are hilarious, and heavier moments feel genuinely heartbreaking. The delivery of such multifaceted emotions in a poignant way speaks for Jennings’ talent itself, and his engagement with the space is also undoubtedly spectacular; Cohen’s direction has him making full use of minimal props and set, convincingly moulding them into separate locations when accompanied by his acting skillset. The titular prop of the little pink dress is an incredible example of this, evoking feelings of childhood nostalgia, trauma, and the importance of reconnecting with your inner child as an adult.
Jennings’ ability to keep up the energy and intense stamina required for this kind of one-person show was mesmerising to witness. He clearly has a high level of singing and acting, which further enhances this piece; this show already makes such a deep impact with its rich themes and heart, and it feels as though it would be entirely possible for this project to go beyond the Edinburgh Fringe onto the big stage. This production is wonderfully intimate, and Jennings truly pours his heart out, showing his confidence in being totally vulnerable in front of a live audience.
It is also worth noting that the mixing for this performance is incredible; music producers David Lukeens and Matty Alger clearly know what they’re doing, allowing for the instrumentals and backing vocals to be clearly heard and appreciated, which elevated the songs and the audience’s understanding of these songs’ relation to the overall story. The songs were also just really catchy and well-composed, effectively differentiating themselves from each other but still coming across as cohesive. The country influence on them is also evident, bringing to mind the musical style of Johnny Cash.
‘Little Pink Dress’ offers a rollercoaster of emotions for its audience, it honestly feels like a top show at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. Jennings and his team deserve all their flowers for capturing the heart and soul of Fringe theatre in general; they make such a lasting impact with this production and it is one that will leave you ruminating on it for a long time afterwards. The soundtrack will also definitely be getting a listen from this reviewer. One highly recommends catching this show before the Fringe is over to end this incredible festival on a high and leave you with feelings of such value towards the art of theatre.
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Tickets available here: https://www.edfringe.com/
Venue: C ARTS – C Venues – C Aquila
Dates: 5th – 30th
Time: 17:35 – 18:45
Ticket prices: £15.50 / Concessions £13.50 / Under 18 and Family £11.50
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
Age Suitability: 16+ (Guideline)