What I liked
The music was fantastic!
What I didn't like
I would have loved to see more conflict and exciting dramatization of the character’s lives.
My overall impression
Congratulations to Gordon Matheson on a very successful standing ovation opening night of his very first musical! NO MATTER WATT is Matheson‘s musical love letter to the people and places that aided him during his journey through recovery. The show starts off with a great dramatic song about the emotional tortures of hitting rock bottom. We then meet the main character’s confidants and fellow Group members as they confide in the audience and one another about their stories. A loose thematic show celebrating the rigor and determinism necessary to battle addiction, NO MATTER WATT’s voltage comes from the score – the music is extremely impressive, eclectic, and high-reaching – Matheson excels as a composer. The game cast give their all, and while the majority of the drama and active conflict take place offstage, the show’s intent is to celebrate the emotions of the characters. And, like Matheson’s road to recovery and NMW’s production, we leave with (spoiler alert!) a happy ending.
