Energy, Energy, Energy! That describes Stone Soup's production of tick, tick.BOOM! Just what does the enterprising artist do when he is about to turn thirty, and he doesn't have a grand success yet? The question could easily be: how many artists get a major success before age thirty? That doesn't matter, for when you are in your twenties, you want everything and expect you can get it. That's exactly what Jonathan Larson expected when he wrote Superbia. Alas, it didn't happen.
In his autobiographical, hard-driving rock musical, tick, tick.BOOM!, we are with him the last few days before a workshop of his work. It's 1990; he's turning 30. Like every artist, no matter what branch, there is the nagging fear that he chose the wrong road in life. In the case of Larson, this is not the case. In 1994 a young producer, Jeffrey Seller, saw the New York Theater Workshop staging of the writer's latest work. Seller brought it to his fellow producers, and in 1995 New York went wild for Rent. Sadly, Larson never saw the Off-Broadway production. He died on the eve of the opening of an aortic aneurysm. He was 35.
tick, tick.BOOM! began in the late 80s as a "rock monologue" performed by Larson. The current version is an editing of the original by Proof playwright David Auburn. Two characters are added.
Director Lindsey Duoos Gearhart's production opens with an explosive overture featuring Charlie Reuter, Music Director, on keyboard, JP Bovee on guitar, Andrew Hoffman on drums and Zach Pyke on bass. The audience is now in the mood for Jim Chatham, as Jonathan, offering a plaint about age and success in "30/90." He is soon joined by Erick Vest as best friend Michael, and, eventually, by Briona Daugherty, as Jonathan's girlfriend, Susan.
tick, tick.BOOM! is a showcase for the talents of the excellent cast. Chatham is never completely off the multiple-level stage. Daugherty and Vest are responsible for many other characters besides the major roles of Susan and Michael. All three sing, dance, are acrobatic at times, and, oh yes, do a great job of acting.
As with almost any musical and almost all rock operas, the music tends to overpower the signers at times. With the intimacy of the 10th Avenue Theater, though, these three actors are in your face with 90-minutes of extremely high energy. It reminded me of several decades ago watching the Los Angles production of Hair.
The audience tours Manhattan in songs that take place in Soho and Times Square. "Johnny Can't Decide," by Chatham and then Daugherty, expresses Jonathan's frustrations. "Sugar" is a paean to the wonders of sweets. At the workshop we hear "Come to Your Senses" as Jonathan fears the worst.
There are touching moments as when he does turn 30, his two friends give him the most appropriate presents. Michael gives three belts to a young man that has never had more than one belt. Susan gives him a binder with 1000 sheets of blank sheet music.
Chatham, Vest, and Daugherty interpret their characters with zest. tick, tick.BOOM! also tells a tale of struggle to "make it" in a tough career where the winners are few and the losers are legion. Let's rock!
