It is often said that the first step to personal growth is acceptance. From there, one can seek
help on their journey. What happens when you take that concept and write a two-act musical
around it? You get a concoction of contrasting personalities doing their best to make sense
of the world... in the form of song. What’s Wrong With Me? - the Musical introduces spiritual
healing in the form of comedic storytelling.
The show starts rather abruptly, with the ensemble entering the auditorium and can be seen
interacting with the audience. It takes a beat to acknowledge the performance has begun,
accepting this momentarily before the lights dim and the music starts. Throughout the
following scenes, each group member introduces themselves as we meet the five strangers
looking for something that only Osmond Ainsworth (Geddy Stringer) can offer. We gradually learn more about each of them as they build relationships with each other and engage in Ainsworth’s exercises.
Beyond the central figure (Ainsworth), having five main characters means dealing with five
core plots. Each one brings their personal struggle to the retreat, so the immediate task is
ensuring each arc is fairly established and then appropriately resolved. This feat is difficult to
conquer in under two hours and unfortunately, is not achieved on this occasion. Other than
humorous performances and late plot twists, this show felt like it lacked purpose.
The show had the opportunity to unpack serious issues and bring unspoken problems into the light but rather gave too much attention to the underlying plot to suitably address these concerns. Whilst it is clear that the solution to everyone’s problems was misdirected by Ainsworth’s true intentions, there was still no clear conclusion as to what the characters would do next. Instead, the closest we got to a resolution was a couple of characters choosing to run away from their troubles and travel with each other, intending to put off adulthood as long as possible.
Beyond the struggles of the plot, there is a series of strong performances which complement
a good score. Stringer’s performance as Ainsworth was the beating heart of the show, with
expert comedic timing and a true sense of individuality within the role. Adam Rhys-Davies’
addition as Andy is fun, entertaining, and insightful. Rhys-Davies is provided with the
chance to delve into his character and he delivered on this work. Amy Putt stands out vocally from the crowd, brilliantly taking advantage of any opportunity to express her talent. Nick Hardie and Jess Coppen-Gardner do a tremendous job of playing characters who
naturally fall into the background but then shine in their precious moments out in front, a
credit to their acting ability.
As mentioned, the impressive casting works well for the music, resulting in an accurate
representation of the score created. Rosalyn Miller’s collaboration with Coppen-Gardner
has created a selection of favourable songs. Notable tracks include the opening number, Andy’s solo, and the duet about a gap year. Without a doubt, a full orchestra and a larger
space would unlock any hidden potential in the score.
What’s Wrong With Me? - the Musical has a lot of positives but unfortunately, the drawbacks
currently limit the show. More time needs to be spent on the foundations and ‘why’ the show
exists. Other than some light entertainment, it is hard to conclude what the audience is
expected to take away from this production. What’s Wrong With Me? - the Musical runs at The Lion and the Unicorn Theatre until 27th July - for tickets and more information, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
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