Review: The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, Apollo Theatre

Lightning strikes the tiny town of Hatchetfield, a seemingly ordinary American community. The next morning, an infection has begun to spread – one by one, every citizen finds themself singing and dancing along with the same upbeat, ominously synchronised musical numbers. There’s only one man who stands any chance of saving the town from the hivemind that’s taking over: he’s The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.

From humble origins as a student theatre group in 2009, Starkid have since cultivated a reputation as an online cult-classic with fans across the globe. This is their first time bringing one of their musicals to the West End, and they know their audience has been waiting fervently for this moment; the pre-show announcements included a reminder to all fans not to recite every word and lyric along with the actors. Since its original staging in 2018 Starkid have updated the production to include plenty of Easter eggs their devotees can scream for, like background appearances of costumes from their other works or a coffee shop menu covered in puns, but that’s not to say that this production has no appeal to the un-initiated either. Indeed, this is perhaps the Hatchetfield story that works best in isolation; those unfamiliar with the deep lore about Pokotho and Miss Holloway can still get their fill of enjoyment from the plot.

The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals brings together its classic book (Matt and Nick Lang) and music (Jeff Blim) with updated choreography by James Tolbert and direction by Lauren Lopez, who has reworked the production for the much grander space it inhabits now compared to its original run. The latter also plays Emma, who is a brusque and unapologetic deuteragonist to the eponymous Guy, Paul (Jon Matteson). Matteson originated the leading role and continues to perfectly walk the tightrope of having such an unambitious, generally callous character come across as worth rooting for when the going gets tough. Paul must rise to being our main character precisely because he is a man who does not want for something more in life, the antithesis of any other musical protagonist – it’s a hard bar to clear, but Matteson meets it skilfully once again.

Other stand-out performances included Jaime Lynn Beatty’s Charlotte, whose sexual repression behind a good Christian mask bubbles over hilariously in almost all of her scenes, and Corey Dorris as the bumbling, well-meaning and eternally sweet father Bill, who plays off Joey Richter’s sleazy Ted with fabulous chemistry. Not to be forgotten, either, are the gorgeous vocal stylings of Mariah Rose Faith Casillas and the perfectly creepy grin of Blim, each taking on many roles in the Hatchetfield population that are all given their own splash of individuality no matter how quick the quick-change.

The sole newcomer to the main cast is Iván Fernández González, one of our own amid a sea of American interlopers. He takes up the mantle of Professor Hidgens, a role that has been cast and re-cast several times over the years, introducing his own spin on a character full of eccentricities, and it’s a joy to witness.

Beyond some small technical difficulties with microphones, it’s hard to name a flaw in this intense, joyful, tragic rollercoaster ride of certain doom. If it hasn’t been sold out entirely for months, this is your sign to snatch up tickets. As a certain police officer once said, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is “f**kin’ transcendent!” – and utterly unmissable.

Co-written and exec. produced by Matt and Nick Lang
Directed by Lauren Lopez
Produced by Brian Holden and Lauren Lopez
Produced in collaboration with the company Lambert Jackson
Musical Director: Matt Dahan
Stage Manager: Juliet Park
Production Manager: Paul Gabriel
Costume Design by June Saito, Mariah Harrison
Lighting Design by Brandon Baruch
Scenic Design by Colin Lawrence
Sound Design by Stephanie Yackovetsky
Choreography by James Tolbert

The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is showing at the Apollo Theatre until Saturday 30 May.