Review: The Jonathan Larson Project, Southwark Playhouse

“The best writers write like they’re running out of time,” Lin Manuel Miranda on Jonathan Larson.

On January 25, 1996, at the age of just 35 and hours before the preview of his off-Broadway rock musical Rent, composer and lyricist Jonathan Larson passed away. He didn’t see the enormous hit Rent would become. He was posthumously awarded three Tony awards and the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for drama. 

The Jonathan Larson Project is performed by a company of five actors covering 18 of Larson’s ‘found’ original songs, as yet unproduced. Each piece is performed like a snapshot from a musical. For every song, it’s quite beautiful to ponder the context of its origin. Whether it’s from a lesser-known revue or when tracks have been cut from Rent, Tick, Tick, Boom or Superbia, we can wonder where they would’ve appeared in the show’s timeline. Some songs were standalone but like a monologue showcase – you can imagine a whole world from which it’s been extracted. The standout from the playlist is Hosing the Furniture. This quirky comic song is wry and intricate to perform but does show off Imelda Warren-Green’s excellent comic timing and impressive annunciation. It won Larson the Stephen Sondheim Award, a huge honour for him. In a way, this production felt like a gig; a showcase of Larson’s unknown works, uncovered and now played out as a tribute to this beautiful human who never got to see the success his talent was destined for.

Some production practicalities hold back the show’s full impact. The most frustrating being the visibility of the backdrop featuring footage of Larson, animation and song titles. There is a bend which rendered the reading of each song title only partially possible from my view. I know Tick,Tick Boom and Rent well but the 18 songs are new to me so it was frustrating to not have a clear introduction to each of them. Some dance and transitions are a little distracting. At times they feel unnecessary, especially as the acting and the vocals are incredibly strong. This company are superbly talented and these expressive, slightly performative movements could be reined in. The fluid and simple staging reflects the workshopping flavour of the piece, even featuring a DT workbench and of course, the ever present piano. These were moved and exchanged as if part of a dance and utilised in surprising ways during transitions.

As the Southwark Playhouse is an intimate theatre, the slick, powerhouse vocals give a jaw-dropping impact. Each member of the company are vocally almost too big for the space, with Green and Marcus Collins hitting notes high up in the rafters accompanied by the most beautiful tone and expression. Their dedication to carry these pieces forth into the present on behalf of Larson, shines through. The hazy, nostalgic air of when these lyrics were written in the late 1980s, early ‘90s, really does add an extra glow of the last knockings of a simpler time. Larson’s authenticity is woven into his work – his yearning for the world to be a better place and with the reminder to seize the day and follow your dreams. This gifted cast convey the heart of the concept brilliantly and with truthful sincerity.

As someone who tirelessly strove to manifest his truths and live a life filled with passion and creativity, the sadness that he didn’t bear witness when it all came to fruition, is so poignant. This production pays a fervent and authentic tribute to a man who was an advocate for living passionately and mindfully, choosing connection over fear.

Music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper
Directed by John Simpkins
Music supervised and directed by Livi van Warmelo
Movement directed by Taylor Walker
Set design by Nate Bertone
Costume design by Jean Gray
Lighting design by Sam Biondolillo
Props design by Sophie Williams
Produced and presented by Thomas Hopkins, SAMS Entertainment & Julie Larson

The Jonathan Larson Project plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough from Thursday 9 July to Saturday 22 August.