I Was A Teenage She-Devil – A Hellishly Good Time at the Fringe

★★★★★

I Was A Teenage She-Devil is an unapologetic 80s teen movie rock fest and it is one hell of a ride. Bursting with neon coloured mischief, it throws together geeks, cheerleaders, rock offs, makeovers, potheads, 35 year old meathead jocks, lesbians and Satan himself in a glitter fuelled fight for popularity. From the very first number, the show knows exactly what it is. Outrageous, over the top and proud of it.

The cast attack each song with precision and personality, pairing powerhouse vocals with choreography that fizzes with attitude. Faith Pasch is magnetic as Nancy, the four eyed wallflower whose deal with the Devil unleashes a big haired, foul mouthed, soul hungry rock goddess. Her vocals are jaw droppingly good and she nails both the awkward innocence and the wild eyed confidence of her transformation.

The ensemble is uniformly excellent, each performer finding their own moments to shine and leaning into the show’s heightened world with infectious enthusiasm. Matt Bader, as the perpetually stoned Doobie, is comedy gold, every glance, line delivery and perfectly timed pause landing a laugh and often stealing scenes entirely. Around him, the rest of the company match his energy, blending razor sharp timing with voices that soar, making the musical numbers feel gloriously full and electric.

At the core of it all is the ingenious writing and music of Sean Matthew Whiteford. His twisted, wickedly funny imagination fuels every lyric and punchline, creating a score that is as smart as it is outrageous. Whiteford blends camp comedy, razor sharp satire and irresistible rock energy into a script and songbook that feel like a love letter to cult cinema, classic rock and high school revenge fantasies, all while giving the cast the perfect material to show off their talents.

Behind the scenes, director Rachel Klein, musical director Ryan MacKenzie and costume designer Juda Leah conjure a world that is musically and tonally ambitious, with a score that feels destined for a bigger life. Yet for all the hellfire and high notes, the set feels visually underwhelming. It limits the sense of immersion and spectacle, leaving the stage looking sparse when everything else, the voices, the comedy, the sheer commitment, is burning bright.

Still, there is no question this is just the start for I Was A Teenage She-Devil. It is brimming with personality, talent and cult classic potential. Give it the visuals to match its ambition and it could rule the underworld of musical theatre for years to come.

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I Was A Teenage She-Devil

Upper Theatre, theSpace @ Niddry St

22:30

Until 22 August

Buy Tickets Here