I was very pleased find myself amongst the large audience assembled for Dynamic Theatre’s production of Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick… BOOM! in the Unity Theatre on Wednesday evening. Better known for his musical Rent, Larson’s earlier work is an autobiographical one, telling the story of his existence as a struggling composer in New York, working in a diner and living in a squalid apartment as he waits for his big break.

Adapted after Larson’s death from a self performed, rock monologue (how very 90s), into a three hander by David Auburn, the musical covers similar themes to Larson’s other and perhaps better known work, with references made to both homosexuality and AIDs. Joe Taylor, who took the lead role of Jon in this production, brings Larson’s character to life with a strong portrayal of the frustrated composer. With most of the narrative driven forwards by his narration, delivered straight to audience the other two actors, Katie Bernstein and Chris Britton, find themselves playing multiple roles filling the New York existence of the diner waiter / musical composer.

In a piece whose core debate is whether giving up on your artistic career and embark on what one might consider a “proper job”, it was interesting to see such a young cast, all of whom have yet to graduate from drama school, taking on such issues. Having said that, although watching a fresh faced Taylor singing about the looming approach of his 30th birthday didn’t quite ring true, I quite quickly got over the conceit, becoming engaged instead with the character’s multiple dilemmas. Undoubtedly testament to the strength of the delivery.

It might be worth noting that Taylor’s opening number, 30/90, I personally find the most, and possibly only, memorable number written the entire show (I await the wrath from self professed Larson fans for making such a statement. Yes, I’m looking at you theatreJunki). There are reasons that Rent is the piece in Larson’s canon which went on to be the 7th longest running show in Broadway history, not tick, tick… BOOM! I have, however, spent the past two days humming 30/90 and spent the majority of last night listening to it on the cast recording whilst writing this review. The keener eyed amongst you might spot Larson’s talent for writing catchy musical theatre tunes with numerical themes. Rent’s I’ll Cover You, one of the best known numbers in the show, centres around the five thousand, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes in a non-leap year.

Credit should also be given to the two other actors creating the piece. Katie Bernstein, who I have seen in Edinburgh Fringe productions, took little time in demonstrating just how talented she is. By the piece’s second mentionable number, Green Green Dress, a charged duet between Bernstein and Taylor, both actors had shown themselves to be very worth watching. Bernstein went on to deliver both a convincing performance as Susan, walking out Jon, frustrated at his lack of commitment, to pursue a better life in New England, and as a crop of additional, mainly comic, characters. Both her acting and voice seemed spot on when I saw the show, and she is pleasure to watch on stage.

Although cast in the supporting role of Jon’s roomate Michael, a high flying, gay marketing executive who has given up his acting career and “sold out” by getting a real job, it was in some ways Chris Britton’s performance which impressed me the most. Moving quickly through an array of comic supporting roles – including, to much hilarity, Jon’s agent who for the rest of the performance had been portrayed by Bernstein – through to revealing his recent diagnosis with HIV, tearing his world, and his life long friendship with Jon apart. The collection of character Britton delivered on the night did a wonderful job of showcasing the range he is able to perform.

The piece was bravely staged with minimal set or props. With the band atop a podium arrangement of large steal deck sheets there was literally nothing for the cast to hide behind. Although the lighting design lacked subtlety in places, it clearly aimed to flesh out the world in which the musical took place and succeeded at times.

Watched on the second night of its two night run it is almost a shame that this piece didn’t a slightly longer run, but to see such a young company deliver such a well put together musical in the large space of Unity 1 was refreshing. With Edinburgh Fringe plans mooted for the group I look forward to seeing where Dynamic Theatre goes next. Many musicals could do with the the level of production this company delivered, letting a small, gimmick free, but very talented cast show the work off to its full potential.

tick, tick… BOOM!
Music, Lyrics and Book by Jonathan Larson
Adapted by David Auburn
Tues & Wed at 20:00 (90 mins)
March 9th and 10th 2010
Unity Theatre, Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG.

Photo credit: Borrowed from the Hal Leonard sheet music cover.

Related posts:

1. Amsterdam Theatre Review: Upgrade or Die at Boom Chicago
2. Liverpool Theatre Review: Impropriety At The Kazimier

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 3:35 pm and is filed under American Theatre, Liverpool, Musical Theatre, Theatre Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.