Musical theatre appears to thrive on some of the most unexpected subject matters – the lives of poetic cats, the founding fathers of America, The Jerry Springer Show – so a new musical set in an NHS mental health centre doesn’t feel quite as extreme as you might think.
This is a Fringe production which sensibly cuts its suit to match its cloth, but still ends up with something memorable
Given its minimal cast and staging, this is a Fringe production which sensibly cuts its suit to match its cloth, but still ends up with something memorable. The cast of four actors are genuinely strong, especially when they have to double-bank as additional supporting characters. The featured songs by Greg Van Kerkhof and Ben Hawkin are strong and successfully push forward both character and action: a duet, “Share the Moon”, is a particular delight.
All told, Julianne Chauhan’s script is remarkably even-handed in its approach to the subject of the NHS mental health service. While a strong “anti-psychiatry” argument is forcefully put forward by a diagnosis-seeking Sam (Heather Davidson), who sees herself as a “cult-classic anti-heroine”, it is balanced by the relatively successful recovery of depressed, agoraphobic Eddy (Robbie Hail), who manages to make a genuine recovery.
The script even ensures that antagonistic authoritarian figure Dr Roswell (Steve Grant) has some moments of clarity and perspective, while Martin Maclennan finds truth in both a proactive care worker and a “selectively mute” patient. Admittedly, some occasional attempts to “go meta” – characters/actors referring to being in a musical – don’t quite hit the target, but overall, this is a roughly-hewn gem worth seeing.
