Kyle McCarren Edinburgh Review: Musical Eulogy Charms
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- "The Real Kyle McCarren" is a new US musical based on real events, playing at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh until 30 August, framed by creator Andy Roninson as a "warts-and-all eulogy" to bandmate Kyle, who died suddenly at 21.
- Andy Roninson narrates and plays keyboards in the concert-style show, while Sean McVerry — who co-wrote the music and lyrics with Roninson — plays Kyle on stage and frequently ribs his creator-character.
- The production is co-directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart; the reviewer notes Roninson is a Jonathan Larson Grant recipient and draws stylistic parallels to Rent creator Jonathan Larson in its "off-kilter neuroses and wit."
- The cast includes Vincent Jamal Hooper as a rival "best friend" Liam who delivers a eulogy, Jaygee Macapugay as Kyle's "formidable mother," and Sarah Coffey as Kyle's ex — each offering a solo tribute spanning rock, soul, and folk (Coffey's "plaintive ballad stands out").
- The reviewer calls the show "earnest, assured and polished" with "well-crafted songs," but concludes that Kyle "remained elusive" because the piece tells his story retrospectively through others' reminiscences rather than fuller flashbacks.
Why it matters: For Edinburgh Fringe audiences weighing whether to catch the show, the review splits the difference: the songs land and the performances are strong, but the structural choice to stage Kyle only in retrospect leaves the central character underdrawn — a limitation the reviewer argues could be fixed by breaking out of the concert format. The Jonathan Larson Grant pedigree positions Roninson as a writer-to-watch, even if this particular piece hasn't fully arrived.
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