“A tight and pacy insight into genius, spotlight with songs that even the most pompous and jaded critic of musical theatre as a legitimate genre cannot overly object to.”
Editorial Rating: 5 (Outstanding)
One year, and I’ve been telling myself this for a decade now, I’m going to spend a day at EdFringe at just one venue and see all the shows performed there from sunup to sundown. Doing so, I reckon, will be the best way to encounter great scripts and performances that I would otherwise miss. A trawler net in place of a fishing rod. If I ever do make good this plan, I hope the results will be as pleasantly surprising as ‘Apple of My Eye’ which I went into on my way out of the previous show at my favourite EdFringe venue.
Chances are that you’ve heard of Steve Jobs. The people untouched by this genius and innovator are now curiosities, clutching their Nokias like anyone would bother to steal them. Jobs rose and fell young then rose, phoenix-like, again before succumbing to a tragically early death. A true trailblazer he achieved astounding professional successes despite infamous personal shortcomings.
Early Mornings Productions is the vehicle for Joel Goodman and Jan Osborne’s musical mini masterpieces including their acclaimed biography of Alan Turning – and no, the Turing connection to the Apple logo is just a legend. What’s delivered in ‘Apple of My Eye’ is a tight and pacy insight into genius, spotlight with songs that even the most pompous and jaded critic of musical theatre as a legitimate genre cannot overly object to. The signature refrain ‘Abandoned, or Chosen’ roots this fine portraiture in the character and contradictions set in motion by Job’s adoption as a baby.
As Jobs, Stephen Smith owns the stage exuding a confidence and magnetism both authentic and essential. Smith is more reflective than apologetic, treading a fine line between ego and mania. Despite a technical glitch – one of the four auld iMacs used to amply Smith’s performance with AV is on the fritz – we are treated to a sense of just how much work has gone into doing justice to a life spent in pursuit of design simplicity. This is a show that sticks in the mind for all the right reasons.
Come for the portrait of a titan of our times. Stay for a production that hits all the high notes. Get your turtlenecks on and go see this!
Get Your Coats On 
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