Tick Tick…BOOM!

The context of this play carries a great deal of poignancy; the composer Jonathan Larson, struggled in the initial stages of his career, despite his talent and a strong influence from the canonical composer, Stephen Sondheim. Larson eventually achieved his dreams but sadly passed away before he could witness the huge success of his show Rent. Tick Tick…BOOM! is an earlier work which is an autobiographical account of this process as Larson experienced it.

This production struggles to import this poignancy into the performance. The trials that Jon (Hugh Sheridan) confronts appear somewhat trivial, especially to a contemporary audience facing serious and sometimes catastrophic social, political and environmental circumstances. The drama of turning thirty and balancing the ideal of trying to create a hit Broadway musical with building a future with a partner is presented as a well-worn narrative. Sheridan is a talented performer but there are times when his vocal range and potency are strained and the emotions of the songs are not fully captured. Finn Alexander as his close friend, Michael, provides a substantial performance and his role highlights the choices Jon has to face. Elenoa Rokobaro who plays Jon’s girlfriend, Susan, steals the show with her exceptional voice and the superiority of her vocal talent is especially apparent in her forceful solo numbers.

The staging is quite evocative and the tough inner urban New York ambience is effectively evoked. This is achieved with some very simple but striking stage design and clever use of set. The melodic music, combined with the charming lighting, dynamic movement and choreography keep the show moving along nicely, although at a somewhat plateaued pace. This could be a very gritty and heart-rending story but this is difficult to reconcile with the aura of an upbeat Broadway musical that the production prioritises.

Patricia Di Risio 

Photographer: Jeff Busby