Tick, Tick… Boom! continues at the Theater Drachengasse, Vienna until 12 October.
Following the success of The Last Five Years (2011) and Ordinary Days (2013), Vienna Theatre Project, Vienna’s only English-speaking theatrical company showcasing musical theatre, is back with another smash hit musical. After Jason Robert Brown and Adam Gwon, 2013 is dedicated to Jonathan Larson. While Larson is mostly known for his musical blockbuster Rent, here is another show, which as a matter of fact tells the story of how that musical came about, called Tick, Tick… Boom!
Actor Kieran Brown sings beautifully as Jon, his acting is solid and the harmonising with Nina Weiss (Susan), especially during ‘Green Green Dress’, is lovely. Weiss’ Susan is very determined in her decisions, but also very passionate. The actress is also seen in other smaller roles, including the agent, which acting-wise is one of her strongest.
Alan Burgon, who already demonstrated his musical skills in Ordinary Days, acts and sings impressively too. On top of playing Michael, we also see him in the role of the father.
The show is staged with plenty of precision by Joanna Godwin-Seidl, who is also the director of Vienna Theatre Project. Another familiar face in the team is Birgit Zach who newly serves as musical director and pianist. She is accompanied by Roman Schwendt on guitar and Franz Hofferer on percussion.
The show features sets by Richard Panzenböck, Johannes Stockinger and Zsolt Kemenes, with costumes by Andrea Bernd and Laura Rameis.
This intimate production not only shines because of its wonderful cast, but also because of the way it uses the small space on offer. The sets are minimalistic but work perfectly; the clock in the background is a very clever idea as time is the central theme of the piece. It is a real shame that Vienna doesn’t have a bigger scene for shows like this, but thankfully we can count on the Vienna Theatre Project.
Ludovico Lucchesi Palli
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