REVIEW: Tick, Tick…Boom! at the Carnegie

July 20, 2024

Tick, Tick...Boom! is an emotional journey of one person’s deep passion for his art.

To truly understand Tick, Tick…Boom you need to know more about Jonathan Larson. He was a composer, writer, and lyricist born in 1960. Tick, Tick…Boom! is a semi-autobiographical story of his struggles in getting his work produced in New York City. He was in many ways a tortured soul, feverishly wanting to be “seen” for his talents. This show illustrates his passion which led him to lose his girlfriend and in some ways, his best friend. Larson died unexpectedly at the age of 35. He is known for the 1996 musical Rent. For that, he won the Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards.

The Plot of Tick,Tick…Boom!

Tick, Tick…Boom! is about Jon (Patrick Earl Phillips), a composer, lyricist, and playwright, who goes to New York City with heady dreams of having his work produced. His best friend, Michael (JT Langlas), goes with him and they room together for years until he leaves acting to become a marketing executive. His girlfriend, Susan (Annika Jonker) is a dancer who wants to live by the water in Cape Cod and have a family. Jon is so obsessed with his own dreams that he doesn’t see the hurt and pain that both Susan, desperately wanting a family, and Michael, who has HIV, are going through.

Jon’s play Superbia is not attracting producers, which in his mind means he is a failure. The tick, tick, ticking in his head is his anxiety about how time is passing and he hasn’t yet met his goals. All of this weighs heavily on his mind. However, Jon’s infatuation with Stephen Sondheim often brings humor to the show.

The Production

There are only three actors, Philips, Langlas, and Jonker, but they play several other people thanks to their costumes and props. Phillips and Langlas voices are strong. Phillips has a good range and along with his physicality and facial expressions, he draws you in. Langlas plays a likable character who cares deeply about his friend. Jonker effortlessly dances both with Phillips and alone. Director and Choreographer Lindsey Augusta Mercer ensures the acting is strong and the cast works and dances well together.

The Design

The stage has two levels (Scenic Designer and Producer, Tyler Gabbard). The slightly higher level has two large “doors” that slide, which allows for versatility and the ability to focus on the band or the actors next to the scaffolding. The lower stage holds the props that would normally be in the backstage of a theater.

A surprise is when the stage “doors” slide back to reveal the band. The band consists of Matthew Umphreys, keyboard and Music Director, Brian Malone, drums, Michael Cerrone, guitar, and Renate Thomas, bass. It is fun to see the band put on yellow ties and party hats and that they have lines. They are not only good at their music but appear comfortable in their acting skills! The music is variegated. “Green Green Dress” is a sweet, sexy song, “Therapy” is a funny, silly song on a difficult subject, “Sugar” appears to come out of nowhere on Larson’s love of sugar, and “Come to Your Sense” is a sad song about the the dissolution of a relationship.

The Clothing

Costume changes are prolific! Susan’s brown coat is seen many times but the green dress, the black dress, the professional white shirt and short black skirt are beautiful and fit Jonker exquisitely (Costume Designer, Maria Fernanda Ortiz with Assistant Costume Designer, Maura Kesterson). Phillips’ and Langlas’ costumes are attractive and suit each character perfectly.

The Lighting

Lighting plays an important part in showing Jon’s emotional states. Julie Cowger (Lighting Designer) is obviously extremely experienced and along with Julia Koch and Maria Schalechter (yay for Spotlight Operators) they use lighting to set the ambiance of the scene. Darkness, brightness, and the fog…yes, fog.

Fog is used. Does it symbolize the fogginess of Jon’s thinking? Or does it reflect the unclear, unknown path that Jon is working his way through in his life? To answer those questions, you will have to see this musical for yourself.