SIN: AN Original Musical – Union Theatre

SIN: AN Original Musical continues at the Union Theatre, London until 2 March 2024.

Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩

The side streets of Southwark provide a suitable backdrop for John-Michael Mahoney’s musical about a prohibition business venture that is seemingly doomed. Following a successful four-night run at The Other Palace Studio in August 2023, SIN returns for a limited run at the Union Theatre.

The story begins in downtown Manhattan in 1921. Jack, played with confidence by Charlie Toland, narrates the scene, explaining that he is going to tell us a story. The company joins him for the opening number that establishes a dark and foreboding atmosphere, supported by a cast of strong voices. The audience is then transported back to the beginning of 1920 where Jack decides to open a speakeasy with inherited money and enlists the help of some friends. The exposed brick wall of the Union Theatre complements the setting of a secret, underground bar, although some more atmosphere could have been created for the speakeasy, where a large part of the action takes place, to convey Sam’s ascendency as the business becomes successful.

The 1920s setting combined with the men in suits scheming to make money is akin to Guys and Dolls, though that is where the similarities end as things soon take a dark turn. The other characters begin to suspect that Jack is using them, but his character lacks presence in Act I to establish this. Harry Osborne deserves commendation for his performance as the sly Michael, Jack’s business associate turned enemy who is the first to become suspicious. Houston McDowall also plays the calm and measured Sam with gravitas. The eponymous number, ‘Sin’, brings the first half to a strong close as the audience is unable to predict what Act II will bring.

There are several powerful songs in the production and each cast member gives a spirited performance which captures the rapid decline of the relationships in the story.

Jack’s love interest, Grace, played by Camile Reid, is well-introduced with a nice number about moving to New York City to follow her dreams. However, it is Grace’s friend Sarah, beautifully portrayed by Taylor Quinnell, who emerges as the more prominent female character in the story when she becomes entangled with Michael and faces some difficult decisions.

Mahoney’s dialogue between the songs is well written and the pacing improves as the narrative progresses. There are a few occasions where the breaking into song is quite abrupt, particularly when it is unclear who the characters are, as a lot of the songs tend to be more theme-based rather than about the characters themselves. These are the moments where the writer/director’s intention that each character represents one of the seven deadly sins is most prominent. At other times, this premise gets a bit lost in the conflict as loyalties change around throughout the narrative. Despite a few questionable American accents, the cast brings good energy to this production and the 1920s prohibition setting is reinforced by the simple yet effective set, costume and make-up design.

Rebecca Sinclair