“Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boy Band Christmas Musical” Edinburgh Festival Fringe reviewed by Martha Hudak

“Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boy Band Christmas Musical”  is a hysterical send-up of the boy band NSYNC. That description is enough to wonder where this new musical is going to take you. More than singing 1990 nostalgic NSYNC hits, it actually has a story focused on member Chris Kirkpatrick, who formed the group, trying to put together a reunion tour.
It takes place Christmas Eve 2009 in Los Angeles at Kirkpatrick’s home, seven years after the group went on hiatus in 2002. He is turning 40, and an angel backup group appears to grant him a wish that he must make by midnight (think A Christmas Carol meets It’s a Wonderful World). Chris’ wish is to reunite NSYNC.

Each member of NSYNC has his turn in appearing before Chris and the angels with individual cast members as a specific NSYNC member. The all-female cast performs 12 of NSYNC’S hits that are excellently sung and choreographed. Valen Shore well plays Chris Kirkpatrick in the lead. She wrote, composed, directed, produced, and performed in this new musical along with Alison Zatta, who plays Marky Mark (better known today as Mark Wahlberg).
The musical accurately portrays some of NYSNC’s events, such as the cigar-chomping manager Lou Pearlman, played by Nicole Wyland, who forces the group get rid of original member Brody. This opens the door to bringing in Justin Timberlake. It is also the introduction of Wyland who brings down the house as 14-year-old Timberlake in a blonde curly wig, an actual reflection of how he looked at that age. Marvelous choreography enhances the performance of Wyland’s Timberlake.

The high-energy ensemble harmonizes beautifully with the NSYNC songs and executes the choreography with zest. They don’t pretend to look like NSYNC members, but camp costumes and make-up add a touch to reflect each member they are portraying.

Chriskirkpatrickmas: A Boy Band Christmas Musical is a fun and entertaining one-hour musical that ends with a serious message. Chris’ wish could change his life forever, just as his forming NSYNC in the beginning changed it for its members. As the creators Shore and Zatta said, “It’s also a story about identity and what might happen on the other side of a dream come true.

We know Timberlake’s future after leaving NSYNC, but it’s good to learn that other members have done well going their separate ways. A reunion tour wasn’t put together in 2009, although there is gossip of one in 2023.
Other cast members are Riley Rose Critchlow, Elizabeth Ho, Emily Lambert, and Mia-Carina Mollicone. Behind the ensemble are established creators: Taylor J Williams (Hamilton and Moulin Rouge!) as music director, Josh Millican (Six and The Band’s Visit) as sound designer, Lili Fuller as choreographer and Hannah Cairo as stage manager.