Review: Pop Off, Michaelangelo! (Fringe 2025)

Coming from the West End after a killer first Fringe run last year, Pop Off Michaelangelo! does for the Italian Renaissance Art scene what Six and Hamilton have done for the reign of Henry 8^th and the American Revolution in the campest possible way. 

Plot 

Weaving in historical ‘fact’ and figures with rapid fire pop culture references and quips that you need to be on your toes for, the musical tells the story of how naïve young god-gearing catholic schoolboys Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo (NO LAST NAME *click*) decide to seek conversation with god to gain forgiveness for their homosexuality by progressing through the world of art and sculpture with an aim to meet the Pope.

Their story takes them through the cliquey art school run by the iconic Medici clan, networking as competing artists, being hunted down by The Office of The Knight and developing a near fatal rivalry all to a soundtrack of banging beats and cutting one liners from a revolving crew of sassy side characters including the sentence ‘gay lover serving fishy realness’ to describe the Mona Lisa. 

Soundtrack 

The music within this musical is *EVERYTHING*, opening with ‘Renaissance Man’ a homage to our lord and savour Queen B that will be stuck in your head for weeks.

The title track Pop Off, Michaelangelo provides the backdrop to a musical theatre staple- the makeover scene- complete with dance moves that you can guarantee I will be pulling out on my next night out. ‘

It’s a Networking Event’ serves serious ’80s fashion with a beat that would not be out of place on Gaga’s next album and giving Drag Race vibes hard. 

Of course what musical would be complete without your ballad section- who knew a song comparing Peter denying Jesus to Maraiah’s dismissal of JLO could bring a tear to your eyes (When You See Your Son Jesus) or that a ‘together we can overcome anything’ love song that references vaping would be so surprisingly tender (I’m Drawn To You). 

My favourite song was the absolute iconic motivational anthem Pick Me Girl sung by Marisa Tomei that I am now desperate for the real Marisa to record ASAP. 

Cast 

While the script and soundtrack are unreal, the ensemble cast truly make the show the unmissable serve that it is. The vocals, the quick wit and delivery of the back to back pop culture in jokes and straight up (no pun intended) palpable chemistry of the group is next level, not a weak link in sight.

Aidan and Max as Leonardo and Michaelangelo are so in sync as the leads and pull off besties to backstabbing to platonic long time love in a way no one has since Cady Heron and Regina George.

But for me, the two stars of the show were the DYNAMIC Michael Maourli as the Pope (think Miranda Priestly meets RuPaul with makeup so point it could cut you to shreds giving reads that had me choking on my drink laughing) and Aoife as Marisa Tomei, the heroine we never knew we needed bringing us to Hell in the most heavenly way. 

Overall

This is THE show for the lovers of Drag Race, girls night out, musical theatre superfans and the chronically online.

It’ll keep you on your toes with the constant references (true and otherwise) to both history of the Renaissance and pop culture and have you gagged and wanting for more than just the 75 minutes on offer.