Review
Review
Review: Pop Off, Michelangelo!
The new musical at Underbelly Boulevard is bursting with queer joy and its own mischievous take on history
It is a truth universally acknowledged that everybody was a little bit gay in the Renaissance. Pop Off, Michelangelo! Dylan MarcAurele’s new comedy musical, expands on this thesis statement, taking two of the most revered names in art history, mixing in a generous handful of pop culture references, and spitting out a highly enjoyable romp through historically inaccurate 16th-century Italy. Best friends Michelangelo (Max Eade) and Leonardo da Vinci (Aidan McColl), wanting to be gay with God’s blessing, climb the ranks of the art world to win favour with the Catholic church. However, the two disagree over whether to hide themselves away or live proudly as they are, and soon find themselves heading in different directions.
As the title might suggest, it’s a delightfully irreverent spectacle less concerned with history than it is with packing in jokes for (said with love) chronically online theatre kids. The resulting tone is warm, witty and welcoming. MarcAurele doesn’t just know his audience – he adores them, and the intimate space at the Underbelly is the perfect setting for a show that feels like a meeting of likeminded individuals. For the uninitiated into Drag Race and Legally Blonde, it remains accessible enough that there’s plenty of laughs to be had all round – as well as some surprisingly tender moments.
MarcAurele’s lyrics prioritise form as well as content, with a score skillfully written and skillfully delivered by a very strong cast. Drag Race finalist Michael Marouli is unsurprisingly wonderful as the Pope, and Eade and McColl lead with humour and heart, treading a nimble line between silliness and sincerity. Also a standout is the hilarious Aoife Haakenson, who plays a number of roles including a divinely-sent Marisa Tomei (it does make sense in context, but barely).
There’s a scrappiness to the show’s design that perfectly fits the tone, with Temu jokes lobbied at the costumes and characters taking exaggerated caution not to disturb invisible set pieces. Despite the snark, there’s hardly a minute among the 75 that isn’t uplifting, and the quick pace and sustained energy is a breath of fresh air. A little of that Fringe magic is welcome in our London theatres – much more of it, please.
Pop Off, Michelangelo! is playing at Underbelly Boulevard until 22 June – find tickets here
