Review by anonymous
June 25, 2017What I liked
I especially liked hearing familiar Clash songs, and some I had forgotten, to create scenes. In some cases the music was used in truly inventive ways, such as with showstopper Rock the Casbah excellently performed by Sean Smith as the tantalizingly eager Recruiter.
What I didn't like
Overall the show lacked real grit. The era is punk rock and the kids looked a little too clean and healthy to come out of the economically depressed Britain of the late 70’s / early 80’s. I enjoyed Samuel Meader as struggling band leader Tom, but there is no way I believed he was shooting heroine. The set changes were carried out in a fun way with two punk girls changing location panels but they were really hard to read. Simply projecting these titles would have helped with the pacing. A live band would have added a lot and is hopefully the next step this piece takes moving beyond the Fringe.
My overall impression
I thoroughly enjoyed this evening of Clash songs that create the framework of a young British band’s struggles before hitting it big. Though the performances were a little mis-matched, the actors gave it their all to create some heartfelt and fun moments. Rod Mclachlan’s direction keeps the show moving and it’s a delight how the band comes together in the end. With a little more development this could become a hit musical in the popular music vein of Jersey Boys or Mamma Mia. Mark Hensley and Peggy Lewis have created a fresh new take on the coming of age musical.
