Pop Off, Michelangelo!

Witty, energetic and a lot of fun for queer and non-queer people alike - shame I didn't know about the merch, or I would've bought some!

What a camp romp through Renaissance Italy this was! Seemingly inspired by SIX and Hamilton, the highly talented cast truly succeeded in making history pop. A few pop culture references had us laughing and left us wanting more! It felt like there was so much more of this story that could be explored if given the chance to stretch into a full-length musical. If you love a queer love story set in a time when living openly and authentically was impossible, then this show is for you! *****

“Pop Off, Michelangelo!”
With music full of snap, pizzazz, and attitude sung by a cast of six with full gusto and glamour, “Pop Off, Michelangelo!” by Dylan Marcaurele (music, book, lyrics) is an exciting, engaging, and electrifying new musical about the two greats of the Renaissance who just happen also to be gay. Boyhood pals (who centuries later would be known simply as Beethoven and DaVinci) decide they want to become great artists but are concerned that because they are gay, God — much less the Pope — may not approve. Deciding religious art is the safest route to their stardom and for forgiveness for their desire to hop in bed with other guys, the two set off to wow the Pope with a Last Supper and a David that will lead them to heaven. But the ladder to heaven is hard to climb in heels, and friends — just like Saint Peter himself — sometimes find themselves denying their pal in order to save their own success. With big-kick choreography, lyrics that sizzle, and just enough sexual naughtiness to raise a little hell on stage, “Pop Off, Michelangelo!” is a gay gangbuster of a musical that is devilishly delicious!
Rating: 5 E

Just brilliant, I want the soundtrack asap, especially the opening song! This camp, historical tale is flooded with jokes, some that will work if you know your LGBTQ culture or your Renaissance history.

I feel like this show will make it to the West End, the only thing that could be an obstacle is that this production is so tight for the hour allotment that I wonder how they will expand it. Perhaps add Raphael as the straight, unimaginative plagiariser that he was!

A truly great musical and such a fun and engaging show! The great historical gay icons da Vinci and Michelangelo reimagined as high school besties promises is the starting point of this story of friendship, success and search for identity. The historical as well as pop cultural references are great laughs, but Michelangelo’s struggle because of his religious beliefs and queerness are truly touching. The actors, score and choreography are excellent. We need the soundtrack now as otherwise it is only stuck in my head forever!

This will likely make it to the West End. The script and musical numbers are ready! The constant pop culture references felt forced and tired at times but I think that may be down to delivery. Based on all the other reviews here, I get the feeling I saw a different cast. One performer may have had an opening night, or was depping, as you couldn't hear her sing - and I was in the front row. There were two very strong performers for the production I saw (20th August): the pope and Leonardo. They had impeccable timing and delivery and carried the show (they also project well so you could hear them). The performer playing the pope was fantastic! Nailed every line. :) I say go see this show if you have a gap in shows and are Inthe area, or, if you overloaded on heavy topics and need something fun.

By far the best show I saw all fringe!

The show has incredible new music, hilarious performances and is just a fab thing for everyone to enjoy! I really hope it goes further than edinburgh fringe as it deserves to

By far the best show I saw at this year's Fringe. I haven't seen a Fringe musical that felt this special, hysterically funny and with genuinely catchy songs since Six in 2017. I can see this being one of the next big things to come from the festival. Almost every line is a hit, the cast are great in their roles, particularly the two leads. We didn't stop laughing from start to end and honestly wish the soundtrack was already on streaming. Sure, it likely needs a bit of polishing but for it's first run, this is truly impressive. Go and see it while you can!

This show is a triumph - absolutely fantastic. Went twice, took my whole family and have told everyone I meet about it. Watch it now while you can in a smallish venue - I can't wait to see where it goes! Great writing, incredible cast, and perfect set for the Fringe.

My favorite song is the love song from our Mona Lisa. Felt like that song would kill on Broadway. Thank you for this show!

Now there are some camp shows on the Fringe, then there is Pop Off Michelangelo.

I loved this. Every song, every one-liner, every gesture.

I want to see more.

I'm obsessing over musicals this Fringe and this one is AMAZING. Such clever writing and brilliant performances. Just go while you can as this one is going places

As a young queer musical theatre lover, this show felt like it was made for me. The off-the-charts number of pop culture references and digs to the audience really draw you into the characters' campy, anachronistic version of Renaissance Italy. All members of the cast have impeccable comedic timing and gorgeous voices and I was (admittedly) surprised to find the show had a fantastic plotline and genuinely lovely friendships and romance at its heart. I also loved the references to other musicals, my favourite of which was Parade. With great music and performances, this is an absolute must-see if you need a laugh-a-minute romp that doesn't take itself too seriously but still delivers a great emotional payoff in the end.

Definite must-see at the Fringe this year. When is the West End transfer? Soon, I hope? Incredibly talented cast, funny and light-hearted all throughout, delightfully queer and with cheeky pop culture references to boot. What's there not to like except that I can't go see it again?

Very, very funny, though my favourite song was the ballad about Jesus and his dad. There's loads of pop culture references that make the show feel very now. Definitely go see it if you like musicals and queer culture

This musical could really go somewhere, some songs are too on the nose when it comes to gay references and some of the crude humour could be removed to help elevate this show to where it could potentially go. The cast are amazing, the singing and there are some really catchy songs as well as ones that could be major hits with a bit of work. Please choose when you are setting the musical and stick to it (you can’t have the mother say newspapers are new technology then next they are texting one another!) I can see the real potential with this but it will require a little more work before it goes to the west end.

The whole room started laughing right after the first line of the show and, honestly, we didn't stop until it was over. Very gay, very funny and full of pop culture references and amazing songs. Definitely a must if you're into musicals!

I feel so privileged and lucky that I have seen this before it gets to West End!! A must!

I can't speak high enough of this show, absolute gem of a find.

Have seen it twice already and currently rousing another group to go see it again later in the Fringe, every cast member gets a perfect chance to shine, the jokes are brilliant and can't wait for this show to be the huge hit it deserves to be.

This show sounded awesome on the website so I knew I had to see it, and I was absolutely right. Definitely hilarious and unhinged, I had the best time watching this show. The songs are epic (I need the soundtrack stat), the cast are brilliant, and I wish I was in Edinburgh longer so I could go see it again!

Such a funny show from start to finish. The whole cast were so talented and slick and the songs were a knockout. So great to see a Fringe show with such high production values! Don’t miss this one.

Pop Off, Michaelangelo! is about to do just that. Do yourself a favor and catch this show while you can because it is about to get a massive West End transfer. It's a fast-paced, wonderfully anachronistic, superbly witty, expertly choreographed hit-in-the-making. Take Wicked, sub out The Wonderful Wizard for a B@st@rd Pop and Judy Garland for Big Freedia, then put the whole thing in an art history class where you started having dirty thoughts about The Thinker. Do not blow this, Michaels/Angelos.

Also, "THE DEFENSE IS WRONG" is one of my favorite moments of this Fringe, even if I was the only one in my audience old enough to get it. Never cut that line.

Literally obsessed with Pop Off Michaelangelo! One of the best shows I have seen so far, and probably will try to catch it again, because it is just so good. Campy, fun, gay, and it's a musical! Make sure you go and see it, you will not regret it.
10/10

Best musical we saw and one of our favorite shows at Fringe! Clever catchy music and a lot of fun!

Very funny and very gay! Gay in multiple senses of the word. Do not expect historical accuracy, but expect catchy songs and also Marisa Tomei. Go see it! We walked in on a whim, and really enjoyed it.

Loved this, so funny, so weird, so well written and executed. We NEED a cast recording as the songs were fantastic. Go see!

Absurd, delightful, ridiculous. Pop Off, Michelangelo was a joy from start to finish filled with hilarious lyrics, catchy songs, and talented performers. Obsessed with this show and still laughing about it!

Go see this show at the Fringe before it…well…pops off. This musical is fantastic and packed wall to walk with pop culture references. Go see this show and you will have the time of your life

Absolutely fantastic show. The creators have put together a great little score and the script is peppered with genuinely funny lines. Definitely worth adding to your Fringe schedule.

Took the roof of with its humour & story that reminded me so much of the ‘Book of Mormon style’. Songs are varied from pop boops to ballads & every character just over-the-top brilliance. History never been so camp & fun. Found my go to recommendation.

In a very hot steamy room the cast delivered a full on very gay view of Italian classics; from a cockney pope to some beautiful musical theatre moments with graphic lyrics :-)

Excellent musical - had us cry laughing within the first 5 minutes. Wish the soundtrack was on Spotify so we could listen on repeat!

I thought this show was such a brilliant, gay, raucous experience. The singing was angelic and I was particularly drawn to the moments of chaos and high energy that still remained so detailed. The songs were catchy, and the opening number got me hooked right away. Definitely a fun watch if you’re looking to laugh and experience some queer joy!