The Mad Ones ★★★

By The Recs PJR 11 months ago

Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk’s The Mad Ones, having acquired a huge millennial fan base, motors into The Other Palace Studio for a month-long run

The title of Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk’s musical, The Mad Ones, comes from Jack Kerouac’s On The Road: a reference to those who are “mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved” and who “burn, burn, burn like fabulous Roman candles”.  There’s a degree of Kerouac’s energy in this story over a tightly packed two hours, though it falls a little short of retina-scorching dazzle.

Sam is valedictorian at her high school, with a loving but overbearing mother Bev and a homely boyfriend Adam. Best friend Kelly brings a spark of joy and excitement into Sam’s life, encouraging her to consider options beyond an Ivy League college and a pedestrian love life.  But events conspire to leave Sam making the big decisions alone: head along the expected path, or get in the car and drive who knows where, Kerouac style.

The show crowbars in multiple themes: self-discovery, establishing one’s own path despite parental ambitions, dealing with grief and the transformational power of friendship.  And there’s a hint of romance between the two leads, which is never realised.  But while grief is universal, some of the emotional wrangling seems a little overwrought for those beyond college age.

The cast throw their heart and soul into it.  Dora Gee as Sam and Courtney Stapleton as Kelly invest energy in their characters and sing beautifully – and powerfully when they belt out the big numbers, especially “Go Tonight” and “Freedom”.  Thea Jo Wolfe as mom Bev, and Daniel Hinchcliffe as introverted boyfriend Adam provide steady support, delivering funny lines and some physical comedy. The songs zip along and are lovely, especially “Say the Word”, a gorgeous duet sung by Sam and Adam as they contemplate consummating their relationship.

The development of The Mad Ones has been a slow burn, building a fiercely loyal following over many years.  It’s a noisy exuberant show which speaks to the experience of school leavers, sharing heightened emotions and making their first adult decisions.  Those universal subjects will resonate with its Gen Z devotees – even if it’s a foggier memory for older generations.

Road Trip – Gen Z Edition ★★★

The Mad Ones Tickets

The Mad Ones runs at the Other Palace Studio until 1 June

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