Review: Pop Off, Michelangelo! at Underbelly Boulevard Soho

25 May

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four Stars)

Following a well-received Edinburgh Fringe run, Pop Off, Michelangelo! has arrived at London’s Underbelly Boulevard Soho with a camp, chaotic vengeance. With book, music, and lyrics by Dylan MarcAurele, this irreverent 75-minute romp through ancient Rome is less about historical accuracy and more about unhinged hilarity.

Set in a delightfully camp reimagining of Renaissance Rome, the show follows Michelangelo (Max Eade) and his best friend/adopted brother Leonardo da Vinci (Aidan MacColl), as they try to art and science their way into the Vatican’s good graces. Fearing eternal damnation for being gay, they are determined to ingratiate themselves with a gloriously camp Pope (played by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alum Michael Marouli) and hilarity ensues.

The script is packed with pop culture and musical theatre references, delivering one laugh after another. MarcAurele’s songs are musical theatre earworms: instantly catchy and delivered with absolute conviction by a top-tier cast. Director Joe McNeice ensures the energy never falters, keeping the momentum buoyant from start to finish.

Max Eade shines as Michelangelo, combining impressive vocals with a flair for comedy, while Aidan MacColl as Leonardo is scene-stealing throughout. Their chemistry is both heartfelt and hilarious. Marouli’s Pope and the ensemble of camp characters we meet in the show all bring so much energy and hilarity to the production.

Visually, the show is just as lively. The fusion of Roman pillars and clubland aesthetics, courtesy of McNeice, Emily Bestow, and PJ McEvoy’s set design, perfectly complements the show’s tone. Adam King’s lighting and McEvoy’s video design are also effectively deployed to enhance the atmosphere of the show. Sundeep Saini’s choreography is energetic and fun, executed with enthusiasm and precision by the full ensemble.

In conclusion, Pop Off, Michelangelo! is, quite simply, a riot. It’s camp, clever, queer, and endlessly entertaining.

Pop Off, Michelangelo! runs at Underbelly Boulevard Soho until 13th July 2025.

Tickets are available here: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/pop-off-michelangelo/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22319326986&gbraid=0AAAAA9SHKz-TeQOZu-FI8SDgNSSRimno9&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlYHBBhD9ARIsALRu09qmE4rvcRwedWoWSvxcAlHTWbX1rWSIRFJJhyVuVxsmcSkeoaKoEX4aAmIrEALw_wcB