The Rise and Fall of Vinnie and Paul | The Glitch

The Rise and Fall of Vinnie and Paul, which is written by Neil Bastin and directed by Kirstie Davis, is a fictionalised retelling of the brief friendship between artists Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, set to a rock score. The music and story are instantly captivating, along with two strong performances, making the musical a little underground masterpiece of its own. 

The musical examines the friendship between the two artists, Vinnie (Max Alexander-Taylor) and Paul (Nicholas Carter), as they begin to live and work together in South France in 1888. The two dream of creating an artist colony, creating paintings that will later change art history, with the former artist becoming one of the most revered artists. However, these turbulent few weeks also becomes some of Vinnie's most challenging times, leading to him cutting his own ear off and ultimately his death. 

The show tackles Vinnie's well-documented decline in mental health with bold sensitivity; never shying away from its consequences on both men. The paranoia and guilt rages as an internal war for Vinnie, portrayed brilliantly by Alexander-Taylor, creating a piece that is more than just a historical examination of a great artist, but of the psychology of the man as well. The show is reminiscent of Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt's musical Next to Normal, with a gripping storyline, its electrifying score and approach to mental health. 

Alexander-Taylor, who has been with this show since its creation, delivers a terrific performance as Vinnie, bringing out the hopeful optimist charm alongside the paranoid, terrified madness. Alexander-Taylor's focused performance as an artist is admirable, as he makes the audience envision his paintings as he describes them, rejuvenating the audience with warmth and hope as the colours in his painting fill the room. However, it's the sharp deterioration as he's haunted by the words of the society around him, and that of Religious preachings, that really makes Alexander-Taylor's performance stand out. 

Carter delivers an excellent performance as Paul, as his happiness at pursuing his dream is slowly drained away by his longing to be reunited with his family and driven away by Vinnie's behaviour. Carter's performance is made even more striking by its direct effects on Vinnie, and the ultimate consequences. Carter's joy is infectious, with glorious vocal talent and really brings the strong elements of the show together, whilst also leaving his own mark on the character. 

Bastin's score is instantly gripping, haunting, clever and emotional, with several standout out numbers, such as Way Past Midnight, Like a Painter Man and Wheatfield with Crows. The lyrics are ingenious, bringing references to both artist's works and truly paints their own picture. The soundtrack brings out the best in the script and both characters, allowing for prolonged moments of emotional depth and filling in the blanks of history with personal accounts from both characters.

Director Kirstie Davis brings out the best of the piece, brushing her own creativity into the musical. The two actors make great use of the small space, using the pre-existing support pillars as walls and divides. The lighting design adds aplenty to the musical, bringing in different hues of yellow, blue and white to not only denote character emotions, but also time of day and the season. Most notably is the red silhouette effect that feels almost cinematic. Props are used sparsely, with the easel, stool and trunk being used to help recreate their humble abode whilst being efficient with the intimate space. 

The Rise and Fall of Vinnie and Paul is a colourful, ambitious and brilliant musical, especially as its still in development, definitely a musical to watch out for! 

The Rise and Fall of Vinnie and Paul is currently playing at The Glitch until 28th April 2025. 

Tickets and More Information

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review