Oxford’s Out of the Blue Returns to the Fringe

★★★★☆

Back for their 22nd year at the Edinburgh Fringe, Oxford University’s a cappella group Out of the Blue opened their set with a rendition of ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’ by RAYE. By the end of the show, I, alongside many audience members, was convinced mine was on stage. 

Walking into the large auditorium, I was struck by the fact that the show was sold out—one of only a handful of Fringe shows I’ve seen to have done so. The reasoning behind this soon became clear. The group’s set list was an eclectic mix of ‘80s rock hits and soulful ballads which ensured audiences knew that the boys in blue suits were both incredibly cool and in touch with their emotions—truly something for everyone.

The performers focused on perfecting their harmonies rather than providing mash-ups, with only one medley throughout, pulled from the Disney hit, Frozen. Here, the group proved its ability not only musically but theatrically, handling complicated choreography and blocking while transporting audiences into the animated film. The quality of the group’s performance was further elevated by the impressive light design, which was captivating enough to make me forget for a moment or two that I was listening to a cappella, rather than a soloist with a backing track. 

By the end of the show, each member had been given a solo, allowing the audience to grasp the range of personalities within the multi-talented group. While I was especially impressed by Otis de Ville Morel, whose beat-boxing percussion guided the evening, the performance made clear that the group’s strength lay not in one or two stars, but in its ability to interweave the talents of each performer.

My only minor grievance comes from the fact that Out of the Blue’s performance was electric enough to inspire singing from the crowd—and a handful of off-beat claps. With performances continuing until the end of the month, going forward I hope audiences will have the grace to leave the singing to the professionals, as these Oxfordians so clearly are.

@freddiehoulahan

Muna Mir