JACKIE!!! Review at the Edinburgh Fringe

⭐⭐⭐

Blood splattered pink suits, pillbox hats, and a huge legacy: JACKIE!!! dares to turn Camelot to Camp at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

Photo by Max Alexander-Taylor

What is JACKIE!!!?

Ever heard of Jackie Kennedy? The iconic pink, blood-splattered dress, the pillbox hat, and the white gloves are etched into history. JACKIE!!!, a new musical, takes on the ambitious task of leading audiences through her life.

Tackling such an iconic figure requires an equally iconic production. Unfortunately, this is where the show starts to falter: it’s not entirely clear what JACKIE!!! wants to be. From the moment Jackie turns to the audience and says, "You're probably wondering how I got here...", it becomes apparent that the tone is tongue-in-cheek...but something's missing.

Joe McNeice and Nancy Edwards (book and lyrics) strike a mostly effective balance, but the camp element doesn’t go far enough. Though there are flashes of brilliance, like the Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra dream sequence, the show never fully commits to the absurdity it hints at, which is disappointing. There is nearly too many Rose is Dead jokes, which becomes slightly monotonous.

With music by Max Alexander-Taylor, it’s difficult to fairly assess the score due to underwhelming, poorly produced backing tracks. The show currently lacks musical cohesiveness, though I’d be interested to revisit it with a live band. A significant misstep is the lack of a standout ballad for Jackie, played splendidly by Nancy Edwards. She clearly has the vocal ability, but is limited to clunky reprises rather than a moment to truly shine.

Direction by McNeice and Sundeep Saini is inventive, especially in their use of four onstage doors, which allow for creative staging, such as the slickly executed “Dr. Feel Good” number.

There are strong performances across the board; McNeice delivers an uncannily accurate JFK, complete with accent and facial expressions. Luke Hickman is suitably villainous as Joseph P. Kennedy, wielding a rich tone of voice. Standouts include Rebecca D’Lacey, who nails both the vocal range and impersonation of Marilyn Monroe, and Danny Colligan, whose portrayal of the sidelined Robert F. Kennedy is hilarious. The audience are behind him from the get go!

Costume design by Emily Obasohan also deserves praise. Given Jackie’s reputation as a fashion icon, this area has strong potential and is one I’d love to see developed further in a future production.

The more I reflect on JACKIE!!!, the more I sense that overlapping roles in writing, directing, and performing may be clouding creative judgment. With so many hats worn by the same people, it’s possible some of the show’s blind spots have gone unnoticed.

Is JACKIE!!! Worth Seeing?

With a compelling subject and flashes of originality, JACKIE!!! shows real potential. It’s not quite there yet, but with refinement, it could evolve into a great piece of musical theatre. For now, it’s an ambitious work-in-progress with entertaining moments and promising talent.

Ticket Information and Show Times for JACKIE!!!

JACKIE!!! runs until the 24th of August at Gilded Balloon Patter House (Big Yin), 3 Chambers Street, Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. Show time is at 6:30PM. Tickets can be accessed through the Edinburgh Fringe website.

Location:  Gilded Balloon Patter House (Big Yin)

Date of Review: 2nd of August

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Disclaimer: I was invited to this show on August 2nd, 2025 in exchange for an honset review. All views are my own and were not influenced by the invite.