REVIEW: Your Time Is Now, Eliza Maroon at Rosemary Branch Theatre 12 – 16 Aug 2025

‘a smart, fast-paced comedy’★★★★

The world of fame is notoriously a fickle one, and often stars find themselves at the mercy of those who are supposedly their biggest supporters.Your Time Is Now, Eliza Maroon explores the relationship between celebrities and their fans, and how this teeters on the thin line between idolatry and vitriol.

Set in a courtroom, with a discerning magistrate occupying the role of social media site X (formerly Twitter), the play follows the trial of aging pop diva Eliza Maroon (Maria Eleni Loizidou), her smooth-talking record label executive Marcus Allan-Bull (Bailey Finch), and Gary Haley, an obsessive fan accused of stalking and attempting to murder her (Jenson Davenport). Although this may seem like a slightly convoluted concept, played out on stage it’s easy to follow, as it becomes apparent that the magistrate (Jennifer Jade) offers commentary as a proxy for Eliza’s rabid fanbase, clearly relishing every minute of the drama arising from the case.

What unfolds is a smart, fast-paced comedy that critiques the checkered relationship of musicians with their fans, record labels and the general public, as they struggle to maintain relevancy in a cutthroat industry. We hear each character recount their version of events, as the extent of Gary’s possessiveness is slowly revealed. Aaron Low’s talent for scathing one liners shines through consistently and despite the comedic tone of the piece, the dramatic moments feel genuinely suspenseful, building to a satisfying climax.

No detail is spared with the set, which is adorned with posters, photographs and magazine covers emblazoned with the face of Eliza Maroon. So extensive is the visual world-building that, by the end of the play, she feels like a real figure within the canon of modern day pop. The production also features an array of media, with video, audio and web content seamlessly integrated into the performance, effectively underscoring the extent of Gary’s obsession.

With internet fan culture as such a key force, the world of the play may not be familiar to those less au fait with the social media landscape that it satirises. Indeed, the piece is heavily referential in parts, relying on at least a reasonable knowledge of Twitter (formerly X) fandom to fully understand some of the humour. However, there are plenty more accessible jokes included too, which anyone with a passing understanding of the music industry and its many flaws can appreciate.

Although set in a courtroom, the staging and audience participation were more reminiscent of a Jerry Springer style set, contributing to the overall sense of voyeurism and intrusion that are central to the plot. The play makes some salient points regarding the parasocial nature of fan relationships with their idols, plus some darker jokes about being a woman in the music industry, but despite this, it doesn’t feel preachy, and is lighthearted enough to feel satirical rather than serious. This is also helped by the performances of the actors, who display strong comedic timing, delivering Low’s punchlines with ease. This combination of strong writing and skillful performances ensure that Your Time Is Now, Eliza Maroon is a highly entertaining, incisive take on fan culture and all the issues that accompany it.

Your Time Is Now, Eliza Maroon by Aaron Low

Part of Camden Fringe Festival, performed at Rosemary Branch theatre

Next performances: 15th and 16th August at 9pm

Box Office https://camdenfringe.com/events/your-time-is-now-eliza-maroon/

Cast:

Maria Eleni Loizidou - Eliza Maroon

Jenson Davenport - Gary Haley

Bailey Finch - Marcus Allan-Bull

Jennifer Jade - The Judge

Crew:

Alison Tan - Producer

Aaron Low - Writer/Co-Director

Roe-Rajah - Co-Director

Harry Andrews - Graphic Design

Harvey Walsh - Cinematography

Molly Gabrielle - Cinematography support

Lewis Moore - Photography