A touching tale of a friendship that spans decades, and poignant pondering on the nature of promises. Life Cycle of a Star has a special something; at its heart there is a defiantly-warm flame burning in a cold night. Stories about long-lasting female friendship are a tale as old as time, and I've seen many at the Edinburgh Fringe before, but usually each manages to find its own special twinkle. Normally this all comes down to the characters and their actors and, in this play, Lily and Anna are a perfect duo. Their chemistry makes every interaction and shared experience engaging and compelling, from the sweet to the heartbreaking.
Lily Lourigan puts in a quietly-potent performance as Anna, everyone's favourite autistic-coded space nerd. She layers her performance with subtle strata of emotion and is an excellent reactor able to find sharp edges in her unspoken moments. I also have to admit that, when Anna finally had her queer establishing moment, it was a satisfying confirmation of the character's journey.
Meanwhile, Melissa Schmidt as Lily, balances Lourigan as the perfect counterweight. She fills the character with swells and eddies of desperation and longing. That agonising yearning for… something… but not knowing what that is, is an all-too well-known, but still tricky to articulate experience. Everything about Schmidt's characterisation speaks to it.
I found myself changing my mind as the play went on about whether the ensemble and the narrator were necessary or not. I definitely think there is a version of this play that could work as just a two-hander, but would it be better? It would be different and still brilliant, but that's all I can decide for certain. There are occasional moments with the ensemble that stray into what feels a little like cliche theatre, but these are only scattered and could be solved with a little trimming and polish.
For one thing, there are points where the ensemble utterly earns their place in this piece to the point where I think it would actually cost the play too much charm to lose them. In particular, Chase Juster has an astounding gravitas to his stage presence and delivery, and Alexa Marie Lindstrom's dance sequence is mesmerising.
The part of the narrator, Time, also remains a point of uncertainty for me. This is no criticism of actor Sarah Loster who is appropriately dignified and mysterious. As the play stands, I definitely think the character is a necessary part of the story, but it still feels just the tiniest bit forced. This could be solved with small edits, rewrites, and rethinks. After all, Ali Viterbi's script is excellent; it fizzes and thrums with nuance, intelligence, and devastatingly real emotion. In general, the script could afford a light trim without damaging the soul of the piece, but Viterbi has the skill to address these minor issues.
The live musical accompaniments and foley are a loving dusting on top of this show. It's transportative and creates a mystical atmosphere that's perfectly in-keeping with the throughline of celestial imagery.
Director Herschel Kruger, and this whole cast and crew should be proud of what they created here. It's special, sweet, and lovely. Promises may often be broken, but this show keeps its promise.
Follow lifelong friends Anna and Lily as their childhood promise to stay side by side through all of life's stages is tested by time and circumstance.
Life Cycle of a Star is an incredibly moving show, especially in its closing moments when several audience members were visibly wiping away tears. What could have been a maudlin or tired reflection on aging is instead delivered with panache, originality, and a close-to-the-bone relatability. The play balances sadness, joy and humour, supported by a strong script and an excellent cast. The direction is clever and assured, featuring some unexpected and striking visual moments that add depth to the storytelling. The two leads deliver wonderful performances full of genuine chemistry, drawing the audience into their journey from youthful exuberance to adult anxieties.
“A touching exploration of friendship, promises, and the passage of time that will leave you feeling both fulfilled and emotionally raw.”
Directed by Herschel Kruger and based on a play about female friendship by Ali Viterbi, this is a joyful and poignant revelation of a piece. Simultaneously intimate and truly epic, it features the most moving on stage relationship of The Fringe by tremendous up and coming actors Melissa Schmidt and Lily Lourigan. Beautiful, haunting and life affirming.
This was a simple story executed to perfection. I loved the narrator, the use of the string on stage, and the music and sound effects throughout the show. Everyone was either crying or trying not to cry by the end - I immediately texted my lifelong friends ❤️
What an wonderful story. At the end i was so deeply involved. One of the best shows I've seen so far. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
So for me this veered occasionally into pathos and repetition and there are definitely chances for cutting in parts. That's purely about the script though. As for the actors - all superb in their delivery, and special note to the leads who were each superb. The whole thing also moved along by some wonderful and seamless stagecraft that was quite mesmerizing to watch. I particularly loved the phonelines and the end in the “heavens” was a joy. It takes a lot of practice to achieve the level of non-intrusive synchronicity here, and the crew should be proud of that. Wonderfully done. I'm glad I saw this. I was treated to a troupe of young actors all with full commitment, no shortage of skill and huge promise. Deserved a bigger audience, but then it's the Fringe and there's competition and a longer run is required to get the word out. I should say that the girls who came along with me adored it and are talking about it still, so there's that.
I went to the see the play today (Friday 15th August) and did not know what to expect. What I found was an excellent and emotional presentation of friendship. The actors handled the challenge with great professionalism and the use of the minimalist props enhanced the experience. A rewarding watch.
Truth be told, the story is not groundbreaking. BUT it doesn't have to be to resonate with you and touch your heart! Moving and well acted! Definitely worth your time!
An unforgettable experience that defies comparison! The two leads delivered stunning performances with remarkable energy and presence. Their stamina alone was impressive, it was truly captivating. The lighting and live music created an immersive atmosphere, elevating the entire production to something magical. A bold, fresh kind of entertainment #nebula
I'm only at my second EdFringe, but Life Cycle is easily my favorite show from both this and my 2012 visit. The cast is wonderful. They are emotionally invested and absolutely dripping with talent. The leads and the narrator are skilled far above their years. Without spoilers, the story here is heartfelt, heart breaking, and all too real. It's well written and exceptionally paced. This is one of those rare absolute, genuine, surprises. I can confidently say I'll be taking the memory of this show with me back across the Atlantic. Spectacular job! Five stars. Best of my Fringe 2025.
A highly imaginative, immersive and moving production. Cast worked fantastically as an ensemble, each incredibly talented. The technical and musical aspects were perhaps the most impressive: stunningly creative and added to the poignancy of the show as a whole. Very well done!
This was so sincere and heartfelt! It uses strong motifs to explore the unique journey of a life, and its small but tight knit cast does so well to tell that story. The leads are great, and I've gotta give a special shoutout to the chorus, taking over multiple responsibilities and roles with ease and providing the best of the show's humour. There was also some incredibly innovative stage work going on. Check this out if you have the chance!
Five stars for this. I just went thanks to a random flyer encounter but by 3/4 of the way through the tears were streaming down my face and it was pointless to wipe them away and I just smiled and it didn't let up. The audience were audibly sobbing for the last few minutes. This is what life and live performance are all about. Everyone on their feet applauding at the end. We'd seen something special indeed.
Heartbreakingly beautiful in the best way. Incredibly stunning.
I saw Life Cycle of a Star earlier today, and it honestly stayed with me all evening. The two leads were incredible—so believable and completely in sync, with this chemistry that just pulled you in. There were moments that made me laugh out loud and others that caught me off guard and hit hard. I walked out feeling that perfect mix of full and a little bit raw, like I'd just experienced something real.
A deeply moving and raw story, told through the eyes of lifelong friends. Life Cycle of a Star is definitely a must see this fringe. The added blend of physical theatre is engaging, refreshing to see and beautifully accentuates the journeys of both lead characters, as they navigate their worlds. The cast did a wonderful job bringing the story to life and they, and the production team, have a lot to be proud of. I will definitely recommend this to friends and family. Wishing you all the best for the rest of your run!
A succinct and touching tale of two pals. Transitions were truly innovative. No weak performance between chorus and leads. A longer show in comparison to others, but worth the time.
Must see show!! Emotionally captivating and outstanding performances! One of the best shows I've seen at the Fringe this year. Superb.
A truly moving portrayal of the passage of time with a decades-long friendship, and all the challenges and growth that comes with two people on diverging paths in life. The acting was splendid (particularly by the two leads) and the production values were exceptional. The ending was one I will remember for a very long time. Truly, something special.
Makes you want to call your bestie real bad - Recommend this show so much I'd flyer for it! 10/10
Having missed a show earlier in the day i was on the lookout for something to see late afternoon. One of the cast pressed a flyer for the show into my hands. We had a brief chat and i continued on my way to buy guitar strings saying I'd try to see the preview of the show this evening (Sunday 3rd) or see it later in the week. I decided to give seeing the preview a go. I am so glad that i did. It was beautifully written and wonderfully performed. This exploration of friendship across the years really deserves to be seen by as many people as possible during its run in Edinburgh. Go see this, you won't be disappointed.
We saw a preview of LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR, and it was absolutely wonderful. The story of two best friends who meet in Kindergarten and remain life-long friends through both good and bad times. The lighting and sound design are exquisite and add depth and texture to the story. I highly recommend this one.