Chris White, image by Ruby Clark.
The year is 1990; Jonathan Larson is about to turn 30 and is questioning his life-long decision to pursue the ‘dream’ of becoming a successful playwright/composer. So, what does one do whilst stuck in this provoking, tumultuous and deeply internalised pattern of thinking?
Write a show about it of course!
We all know of Jonathan Larson’s success in the late 90’s with the hit musical RENT, but before it all took off he took to the bars, clubs and workshop spaces of New York City presenting his one man show “tick, tick… BOOM!”.
In more recent times, this work has been adapted into a 3-hander. In our production, one actor plays the role of Jon (me!) with two other performers jumping in and out of Jon’s fantastical world as his best friends, parents, colleagues, and acquaintances (Stephanie Long & Josh Whitten). It’s a fully staged musical containing 11 original songs and a story that will tug at your heart strings.
“How do you document real life, when real life's getting more like fiction each day.”
- Mark, from Johnathan Larson’s RENT
Tick, tick BOOM! is a coming-of-age story where resolution is never actually realised. It poses questions like “Why do we follow leaders who never lead?” and “Why does it take catastrophe to start a revolution?”. In a time where social discourse has seemingly regressed since the time of the show’s conception, I think these are questions we’ve all been asking ourselves in recent times.
Jacqui McLaren as Mimi and Chris White as Roger in Matt Ward Productions’ RENT, image by Kenn Santos.
One of the more comical aspects of this story (there are a lot of laugh out loud moments!) in a post-pandemic world is Jon’s ramblings about the 90’s as boring and “not a period of ferment”. Millennials of this generation (myself included) now look back on those times and wonder about how we got to where we are. What could possibly be worse than the boredom of lockdowns, with added social and political unrest?
With all these stresses and circumstances, I’ve found Tick, tick BOOM! eerily relevant; the world must agree, as it’s no surprise Netflix have jumped on the bandwagon as well (with a new film dropping later this year). It’s a work that encapsulates and perfectly reflects our attitude towards change. How close are we to that loud BOOM! which constantly consumes our thoughts? And will it be the outcome we are dreaming of, or will it ultimately lead to our untimely death?
As many would know, Larson passed away from a shocking brain aneurism before his dream was realised, giving an unintended meaning to the title and concepts within the show - reminding audiences with a knowledge of Larson’s life of their own mortality and raising questions like “Is achieving our so called ‘dreams’ really what life is all about?”
Now, its 2021 and the author of this piece has just turned 30 and is asking himself all the same questions. Why don’t I have a family, own a house, or have a logical career path?
Because I’m pursuing the dream, that’s why.
tick, tick … BOOM! is running 28 - 30 October at Ipswich Civic Centre in a limited season directed by Ipswich’s own Timothy Wynn starring Chris White, Stephanie Long, Josh Whitten & Henry Kafoa.
You can find tickets here.