Tick Tick... Boom! (ACT Hub) - Review
“I make a vow,
Right here and now,
I'm gonna spend my time this way."
Sooooo… Tick Tick… Boom!.
This is a show that’s very near and dear to me… for some reason. The semi-autobiographical musical of a struggling artist, Jon, as he rapidly approaches the end of his 20s, chronicling his struggles to try and contribute something meaningful to the artistic hub of his city before his “youth” ends, whatever that means. A bit close to home? Maybe. But I really like this show.
There’s something very charming about the audacity of its script that compels me; it is the ultimate piece of self-indulgent art. And yet, the indulgence is never experienced, as Larson tragically never lived to see it coalesce. So, it is our privilege to get one final look into a mirror of his soul, and all the flaws that made it human, in a piece of work that will be performed many a time to come.
Director Nikki Fitzgerald has presented a superbly intimate staging of this show. Like many a venue Larson had to pitch his shows in, the Causeway Hall is utilised by Fitzgerald to draw the audience in without ever letting go. We aren’t just watching Jon’s struggles; we’re in the room with him, and all of his fears and struggles. Fitzgerald also employs both suitable comedy and emotion in equal measure; the show is uproariously funny at times, yet quietly somber at others. It’s a difficult balance to strike, but Fitzgerald and her cast manage it nicely.
Callum Tolhurst-Close, accompanied by his on-stage band, has the reins on the music gripped with confidence. The tunes are tightly wound and beautifully spun, every song sounding pitch perfect. The score’s value to the plot is not lost on Tolhurst-Close, and he makes sure its voice is heard with power and panache.
The choreography Nathan Rutups was the gold standard I’ve come to expect from him; fun, energetic, and fully utilising the space given, with impressive attention to scale. It’s easy to want to fly off the handle with some of the more energetic numbers, but Rutups not only makes the choreography fun and energetic, but also suitably restrained and in line with the rest of the elements at play. Alexander Unikowski is once again perfectly suited to his casting, this time in the role of Jon. His acting is brilliantly compelling in its portrayal of the struggles within the self, but it’s the musical elements of the character that Unikowski utterly nails. His singing is on point, his stamina is downright breathtaking in its impressiveness, and his piano playing (although expectedly so) is a perfectly complementary skill that renders his character just that smidgen more believable. Unikowski brings a tailored history with music in his wake and wields it like a well-trained rifle, and it is an understanding that is utterly indispensable to this role.
Unikowski is supported marvellously by his fellow castmates. Dave Collins walks the tightrope of comedy and drama with aplomb as Jon’s best friend, among other roles, making the crowd cackle with laughter at some points, and devastating them at others with his deceptively impressive characterisation. Taylor Paliaga also gets her licks in comedically, while also providing tension and complication to the plot as Jon’s exhausted partner. The pair of them sing with incredible skill, each getting their own moments to absolutely knock the socks off of the crowd, while also strongly supporting Unikowski throughout.
The set was suitable in presentation, especially in its accomodation of the on-stage band (Larson would be proud). The costuming was on point and efficient for the sake of the show’s numerous quick-changes, and the lighting and sound were well-balanced and perfectly supportive.
All in all, ACT Hub has presented a resoundingly satisfying performance of a show I really love. Its cast is superb, its music is wonderful, and its message really hits where it hurts. Time is something we spend too much of, as we worry about wasting it to such a degree that it consumes all that we do. It even infects the pages of our drafts, and we almost get so distracted trying to tell people about that tick tick ticking we insist we hear, that we almost forget why we sat down to write in the first place. And maybe, we won’t be too late, and maybe, we’ll get that masterpiece out the door juuuuuuust before the deadline.
You’ve got 8 more chances to catch it. Better hop to it.
Tick tick…
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| Moron in the lobby of ACT Hub's Tick Tick... Boom!. |
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