A stylish new musical which has intriguing themes, but is limited by underdeveloped characters and a muddled narrative.Summary
Rating
Ok
SNAP is a brand-new original musical written and composed by David O’Brien, currently playing at King’s Head Theatre. As the title suggests, the story revolves around photography. It opens with Max (Matteo Giambiasi), a renowned photographer who takes on a tea commercial. Departing from his usual preference for female models, he unexpectedly casts Tom (Will Usherwood-Bliss) – a young man addicted to video games and, more notably, the current boyfriend of Max’s ex-girlfriend Angela (Hayley Maybury).
During the shoot, Tom is asked to pose in nothing but his underwear while holding a teapot, with camera assistant Sheila (Justine Marie Mead) applying baby oil to his body. A series of relationship entanglements follows: a typo in a text to Angela triggers a misunderstanding that pushes her into Max’s arms. Meanwhile, Tom, left alone in the studio with Sheila, ends up spending the night with her. This turning point is clumsily staged, with an overlong piano interlude and clichéd curtain projections of the sun and moon to signal time passing—visually stale and dramatically dull.
The final twist – that Max had been orchestrating everything all along – raises more questions than it answers. His motivations remain vague: is it revenge, a need for control, or some warped artistic pursuit? In the end, all we’re shown is a set of photos of Tom holding a teapot on Max’s computer, which hardly justifies the elaborate scheme that led to it. This twist feels more confusing than compelling due to the lack of a clear motive, combined with the absence of narrative clues.
There are also clear shortcomings in character development. With limited stage time, most of the main cast feel underwritten, especially Tom. He suddenly shifts from a socially awkward, video game-obsessed introvert to a confident, seductive model with little explanation, which is difficult for the audience to understand. Sheila’s arc is the most emotionally coherent, brought to life by Mead’s nuanced and convincing performance. She was first portrayed as Max’s submissive assistant, but through her interactions with Tom and Angela, she gradually regains her agency and eventually walks away from Max.
Musically, the show fails to leave a strong impression. Most songs blur together, lacking the kind of melody that makes them linger. Sheila’s solos offer occasional emotional clarity, though they still fall short of being truly memorable. That said, both Maybury and Mead deliver excellent vocals, providing some of the show’s most enjoyable moments. As a new work, Snap! attempts to explore complex themes of manipulation, desire, betrayal and love. Unfortunately, there is ambition, but not enough depth to fully unpack the story it sets out to tell.
Written by: David O’Brien
Directed by: Jack Storm
Lighting Design by: Alistair Lindsay
Sound Design by: Richard Carter
Musical Direction by: Debbi Clarke
Stage Management by: Fae Hochgemuth
Produced by: Alistair Lindsay Entertainment
SNAP: A New Musical runs at King’s Head Theatre until Sunday 25 May 2025.
