Tick, Tick...Boom!

Playwright Jonathan Larson had a difficult time getting started in the world of musical theatre.  His first attempt, the sci-fi musical Superbia, got no further than a rehearsed reading.  His reputation wasn’t sealed until his third and final play, Rent, was produced, just days after his untimely death from an undiagnosed heart condition.  Sandwiched between those two came Tick, Tick…Boom!, an autobiographical show which started out as a ‘rock monologue’, before being turned into a fully-fledged musical after his death. 

Theatre SSL Productions brought the story of Larson’s life to the stage with sensitivity and a real commitment to the emotional heart of his story.  Directed by Hannah Finch, with musical direction by Ed Malpass and performed by a seven-strong cast, Tick, Tick…Boom provided an outstanding evening of theatre.  The singing was strong throughout, but it was the emotional connection of the whole cast with the music and with Jonathan’s life that really hit home and provided such a strong core for the show.

Leading the show as Jonathan was Matt Bridgewater.  On stage throughout, Matt gave a powerhouse performance, showing incredible focus and stamina.  He opened the show superbly with ‘30/90’ – a song about the inevitable passing of time which sets up Jonathan’s story, as well as introducing the other main characters – and in which he didn’t miss a beat.  Jonathan is rather a self-absorbed character and it would be easy to focus on the depressive, downbeat side of his personality.  So I thought it was a good decision to lighten him up and make him more humorous and quirky in the early scenes, making it easier for the audience to connect with him. 

Sophie Hill also excelled as Jonathan’s girlfriend Susan, whose yearning for a family life in the country came into direct confrontation with Jonathan’s search for fame and fortune in New York.  Their early song, ‘Green Green Dress’ effectively set up their relationship, and their first half duet, ‘Therapy’, was a real highlight – showing hints of Rent’s style with its quick-fire lyrics and masterfully performed as they slid around the stage on rolling chairs.  There was great chemistry between the pair, and the sadness when Susan finally left Jonathan towards the end of the show was palpable.

There was more strong acting from Scott Cartwright as Jonathan’s best friend Michael.  His performance of ‘Real Life’ provided a dramatic and emotional end to act one, whilst the moment in the second half when Michael reveals his illness to Jonathan landed like an absolute bombshell.  Superb acting from both performers, and great direction to focus in on the moment.  Props also to both Scott and Matt for their turns at the piano, which brought a real authenticity to the show and was flawlessly integrated into the backing music by the technical team.

For this production, Theatre SSL Productions expanded the usual casting of Tick, Tick…Boom, by sharing out the additional roles normally taken by the actors playing Michael and Susan.  This provided opportunities for other members of the group to make their mark, so well done to Emma Shaw (Karessa/Judy), Reece Clews (Counter Guy/Dad), Chloe Amos (Rosa) and Jacob Finch (Parking Attendant), all of whom did a great job in beefing up the ensemble.  I particularly enjoyed the scene in which a hapless Jonathan attempted, without success, to impress Michael’s work colleagues.  This featured a particularly fun turn from Emma as the domineering ‘creative’, Judy.  The expanded cast also allowed for ‘Come to Your Senses’ to be converted into a well-performed duet between Susan and Karessa.

There were some good uses of scenery, particularly to show the coffee shop in which poor Jonathan got run off his feet (more good work by the ensemble here!)  As one might expect from technical experts Theatre SSL, the show was well lit, with particularly good use of follow spots to highlight the performers.  Jonathan’s regular asides were effectively illustrated by snapping to a spotlight on him, although perhaps these got a bit too frequent at times, distracting a little from the storytelling.

With Jonathan’s story ending hopefully, with ‘Superbia’ well received and receiving a positive review from no less a personage than Stephen Sondheim, the show came to a upbeat conclusion with the rousing ‘Louder than Words’, a call to arms for friendship and solidarity, authentically performed by the whole ensemble. 

After the cast took their well-deserved bows, there was an extra treat as the addition of ‘Boho Days’ hinted towards Larson’s next steps in musical theatre, Rent.  This full-throated, celebratory conclusion provided the audience with a positive and enjoyable finale.  My congratulations to the Finch family and the other members of Theatre SSL Productions, who have added some real vitality to the local amateur theatre scene.  I look forward to seeing them for something completely different next year, when their panto Aladdin hits the stage!

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