Carrie Hope Fletcher: An Open Book – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Director: Ruthie Stephens

To list the shows which have benefited from the talent, grace, and tremendously infectious sense of humour and decorum which exudes from Carrie Hope Fletcher, the UK stage industries absolute darling and perpetually rising star, would take us a rather long time. Whether your first experience was Carrie’s take as the macabre Wednesday Addams, or her debut in Heathers, or maybe you have absolutely no idea who this charming and talented woman is. Well, give it an hour or two, and you’ll know here from cover to cover.

There’s a chimera-element to An Open Book’s structure – neither a direct show, nor a strict concert. With such a repertoire of tales and songs to share, instead the audience is offered the opportunity to shape the way the evening flows. Had it not been for the bands and warm-up courtesy of Trinity, this would very easily be a one-woman show. Within the souvenir brochure, a QR code enables audiences to select topics they would like to hear, each with an accompanying story and song selection. On offer for this evening at the Festival Theatre? ‘A Bitter Sweet Anecdote’, ‘A Saucy Scoop’, ‘A Family Fiction’, and ‘A Cheerful Whisper’ (among many other options).

Generously deigned by Jonny Dickie and Joseph Ed Thomas, An Open Book is a world one could easily lose themselves in, warm, dark but still pleasantly lit with Ed Thomas’s lighting, this is a mind-study of Carrie’s choosing, a realm fitted with books galore, lamps and Chesterfield sofas to conjure all the creature comforts a nostalgic trip may require. The jewel-tinted sapphire and emerald allure of it all, from Carrie’s dress to the backing atmosphere offer an elegance without pretention. An Open Book has a clear quality to it’s design and make-up, as visually engaging as possible without becoming intrusive.

But let’s be blunt; what of the musicality of the show? Well, as expected, it doesn’t disappoint.

The ‘select your own’ adventure style of the structure means that some fans may not hear their favourite number, but regardless, there is zero question to the range and talent on vivid and vivacious display throughout as Carrie not only delivers vocally but channels a rarer and unsung variety aspect in the back and forth and intern moments. Carrie’s performances are backed by the on-stage quintet, led by the Musical Director Ben Van Tiene. The band consists of Lewis Dunesmore, Tina Jacobs-Lim, William Hillman, Rachel Robson, and David Hornberger.

Not only reviving her Les Miserables stardom with On My Own, but Carrie also treats the audience to slice of the musical legacy number Stars, Javert’s defining number from the musical, and a notoriously deep and richly complex number to strike out. But for those with a closer age bracket to Carrie themselves, the dip into the My Chemical Romance pool with I’m Not Okay with a trauma-inducing stripped hoody certainly brings back powerful memories and serves as a firm reminder of Carries versatile voice.

Covering topics which range from the industry insights to early performances and struggles, to the crowd’s obvious thirst for her ‘disgustingly’ talented and famous older brother Tom’s shadow cast aside by Carrie’s own rise to fame and prestige, there’s plenty of childhood stories about the poor fellow’s ineptitude when it comes to domestic tasks and being a failure of a babysitter. Thankfully, times have changed. And of course, a few McFly numbers just to ease over any wounds.

An Open Book is still catering to younger audiences, not in a disparaging way, but any of her older fans who may be familiar with the ins and outs and discrepancies of the industry aren’t going to be getting any nitty-gritty details of bad-blood details. Fletcher remains professional throughout, redacting any areas which could compromise, looking forward, not back, and learning from experiences in the world of the stage.

Reviewed on 4 June 2023 | Image: Contributed