Catch Me continues at the Above the Arts Theatre, London until 3 December.
Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
Catch Me is the debut musical from Arnoud Breitbarth and Christian Czornyj that follows the story of Dean who has ‘slipped through the cracks’ and ended his own life.
The ensemble is made of five actors, who play the characters supposedly closest to the leading man. One is his sister, his best friend, his closest work colleague, his brother-in-law and his fiancée. The quintet of characters pull us through each stage of grief and doubt, until the discovery of a letter forces them to realise that he knew them much better than they ever knew him.
It is admirable for the team to tackle a subject as taboo as suicide and create a character suffering from severe mental health problems who seems to ‘have it all’. The show’s opening and title number is powerful, and the arrangement links perfectly with the sensitivity of the topic.
Although the actors are excellent, the dialogue is awkward at times with scenes not always having the right tone or suiting the characters. The score, however, is flawless and the Breitbarth/Czornyj team has created a captivating story that forces the audience to think.
The highlight of the show for me is the slightly comic, yet painful number, ‘Why Didn’t I Stop Him’ sung by Marc (played by Matthew Munden). The actor plays the role with a superbly subtle comedy that glues the show together. His battle with grief is performed with heartbreaking conviction.
Catch Me, directed by Jill Patterson, is an important show. It showcases brave, beautiful new writing and the team deserves nothing but praise. With some work to bring the book up to the same level as the score, this could be a hit.
Lucy Beirne
Readers may also be interested in:
Catch Me – a new musical – premieres at the Above the Arts Theatre – Interview
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