The Jonathan Larson Project at Southwark Playhouse (Borough) Review
Written by Georgia for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review. All views are our own
The Jonathan Larson Project is a song cycle conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, consisting of songs taken from the revolutionary composer’s archives, tapes, and journals. There isn’t a traditional book or plot to the show; instead, it gives an incredible glimpse into Larson’s genius writing process, featuring 18 songs which are a mix of never before performed songs written and cut from musicals he worked on, such as “Superbia”, “Tick, Tick, BOOM!” and “1984”, as well as some musicals and cabarets he collaborated on.
The staging of the show at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough) consists of a central playing space encapsulated by the Southwark Playhouse’s three seating banks and, on the back wall, some raised steel deck and scaffolding for the four-piece band. There is also a central sheet which has a video projected onto it during the show. There are larger pieces of furniture within the space, such as a workbench, piano, and a stepladder, which are wheeled around and very well utilised in different numbers. For example, the stepladder is used as aeroplane steps at one point.
The score, consisting of music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is nothing short of perfection. For music written over 30 years ago, it feels incredibly modern and relevant. From upbeat, catchy opening numbers like “Greene Street” to pop songs like “Out of My Dreams”, slow ballads such as “Love Heals”, and brilliant comedy relief from “Hosing the Furniture”.
The lighting design by Sam Biondolillo was simple but very effective. The cast was easily visible at all times, and the colour washes and haze helped to create the perfect atmosphere. A highlight was during the number “Hosing the Furniture”; a gobo was used on one of the lights to create the effect of dripping water down the wall.
The sound design by Alistair Penman was, unfortunately, one of the weaker elements of this production. The band weren’t overpoweringly loud, but lots of the vocals would still get lost within it and each other. It was particularly noticeable during the opening number, but it did get better as the show went on.
Alex Basco Koch’s video design was, on the whole, very effective and really helped to hone in on the message of the piece and the contained stories of each song. It was also really great to see original footage of Larson and how they were able to integrate that into the live performance. However, there were points where the design didn’t feel realistic. The backdrop during “Hosing the Furniture”, and also in the number “The Vision Thing” were the ones which jumped out the most and left me disappointed as an audience member witnessing this piece of work.
The cast of five gave absolute powerhouse performances, and each brought something different to the performance. The standout performances for me were from Imelda Warren Green, particularly during the numbers “Break Out the Booze” and “Hosing the Furniture” where her acting through song especially in the latter was incredibly strong. Max Harwood’s performances of “One of These Days” and “Rhapsody” were vocally excellent and he also performed brilliantly as a trio with Marcus Collins and Michael Mather in “Find the Key” all of their voices blended together beautifully. Natalie Kassanga’s vocal agility was really shone in “Out of My Dreams”.
Overall, I had a wonderful evening at The Jonathan Larson Project. I think it’s the perfect show for anyone who’s a fan of Larson’s work, as it’s a great glimpse into his creative process and unheard works. Also, with a run time of 90 minutes and no interval, it’s a short show that never drags in its pacing.
The Jonathan Larson Project plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 22 August 2026.
★★★★
