Review: DOMITIUS, Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Online

Following Hero and his self-obsessed, vain attempt to fulfil his dream to become a musician and performer, Domitius is a story of love, song, dance, humour and of course it wouldn’t be Rome without a bit of murder thrown in too.

With a score that could be described as similar in style to that of a 70’s era Jesus Christ Superstar or Godspell entwined with Hamilton, helping to tell the story alongside a script that references fellow musicals, 21st century pop culture and political references in a satirical style.

The libretto, written by Henry Gu Cao and Lux Knightley and music and lyrics by Knightley and Luke McCormick, is both informative and catchy, with the lyrics descriptive enough to follow the tale easily. The characters are distinctively naïve or horrifically evil as would be expected from a Roman empire, and the choreography is both entertaining and comically rounds off the performance nicely.

Directed by Bethan Carys, Lux Knightley and Luke McCormick, this production would appeal to both the history and the musical theatre fan without disappointment, unless you’re looking for a happy ending that is.

A talented cast is led by Max Himmelreich as Nero, commanding as the reluctant Emperor and the passionate yet vain desire to perform, forcing his subjects to watch his performances on pain of death to feed his ego.

It’s a modern take on a classical historical scenario with equal measures of comedy and tragedy, capturing the fickle nature of the human existence as well as questioning reactions to the triumphs and calamities of life.

Satirically comical, tragically murderous and musically pleasing.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Domitius is playing as part of Edinburgh Fringe online, with tickets available here.