"tick, tick... BOOM!" - Bridge House Theatre - ★★★★ - Until October 27, 2019


Before there was Rent Jonathan Larson wrote tick, tick... BOOM! about a young composer facing his thirtieth birthday and wondering where his life was going. He is torn between the dreams of his writing the great musical of his generation, his girlfriend's desire to move out of NYC and settle down, and the example of his friend who has given up acting to succeed in the corporate world. This is a work that presents the existential dilemma of Jon (Alex Lodge) but also that of the generation coming of age in the 1990's, when personal crises are sadly put into perspective by the plague of AIDS. There is more than an echo of Jon's "God" Stephen Sondheim in Larson's work which can't help but recall the latter's Company. The quality of the songs vary but have some real highlights like "No More," "Sunday" and the superb "Why." If there is a weakness it might be in the thinness of the book, but this production makes it easy to overlook that. Alex Lodge displays amazing energy and is a believable Jon seeking his place in the world. Georgie Ashford as girlfriend, Susan, is outstanding and her ability to create a variety of characters is simply astounding. James Hume as best friend, Michael, hits just the right note, and it is refreshing to see his character not parodied for his life choices. Guy Retallack's direction is masterful filling a small space with lots of action and always keeping the audience's attention with the piece's lively pace. Jon's may be obsessed about the passage of time, but for the audience it flies by.


Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until October 27, 2019
Tue - Sat: 7:30 pm, Sat: 4:30 pm & Sun: 5:30 pm
Bridge House Theatre
Nearest station: Penge West

Most Popular

St. Martin in-the-fields: Lunchtime Concerts ★★★★ FREE

Knocking on the Wall ★★★★ Finborough Theatre | Oct 31 - Nov 25, 2023

Mates in Chelsea ★★★ Royal Court Theatre | Nov 3 - Dec 16, 2023

Discover Liotard & The Lavergne Family Breakfast ★★★★★ The National Gallery | Until March 3, 2024 (Free Entry)

The Mongol Khan ★★★★ London Coliseum | Nov 17 - Dec 2, 2023

Nutcracker ★★★★ Southbank Centre’s Tuff Nutt Jazz Club | Until January 6, 2024

Sleeping Beauty Takes A Prick ★★★★★ Charing Cross Theatre | Nov 23, 2023 - Jan 13, 2024

The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical ★★★ Apollo Theatre | Oct 7, 2023 - Mar 30, 2024

Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen ★★★★★ Bush Theatre | Until December 23, 2023

The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Frans Hals ★★★★★ The National Gallery | Until January 21, 2024

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings