Theater Review: tick, tick...BOOM! Is a Beautiful Mix and Match of Cast Members

(SPOT.ph) If there’s one thing that the musical tick, tick… BOOM! has proven since it first came out in the ’90s—back when boomers were in their late 20s to early 40s, it’s that milestone anxiety is relevant to every generation.

Jonathan Larson Before Rent

You’re most likely familiar with the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning musical Rent and its famous "Seasons of Love" lyrics (cue: "...525,600 minutes.") But before American playwright and composer Jonathan Larson created the hit piece, he wrote tick, tick… BOOM!, a semi-autobiographical musical about his days as a struggling artist.

After years of trying to make it in the theater scene, he finally completed tick, tick… BOOM! and performed it as a rock monologue in 1990. On the verge of giving up on his lifelong dream, his musical Rent was finally scheduled to premiere off-Broadway.

But one tragic day in 1996, on what was supposed to be the first preview show of Rent, Larson was found dead in his apartment from an aortic dissection caused by undiagnosed Marfan Syndrome. He was almost 35. He didn’t get to see tick, tick...BOOM! revamped into a hit three-actor show nor witnessed Rent earn global critical acclaim through the decades.

Synopsis of Jonathan Larson's tick, tick...BOOM!

The musical is about three 20-somethings finding their place in early ’90s New York City. Protagonist Jon is an aspiring composer about to turn 30 and is growing increasingly anxious about making it on Broadway. While working as a waiter to make ends meet, he pens his rock musical Superbia, which he hopes will get picked up by the industry bigwigs, most specifically his idol, Stephen Sondheim.

His girlfriend Susan pressures him to leave New York so that they could start a family in the suburbs and seek a more stable profession. His childhood best friend Michael, who gave up on his acting dreams for a lucrative marketing career, hounds him to do the same.

tick, tick...BOOM! became even more popular as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut on Netflix in 2021, starring Andrew Garfield as Jon. In the Philippines, 9 Works Theatrical produced tick, tick...BOOM! in 2016, starring Jef Flores as Jon, Ariel Reonal as Michael, and Tanya Manalang as Susan. Flores and Manalang reprised their roles this 2023.

Mix and Match of Cast for tick, tick...BOOM! 2023

Joining Flores and Manalang are Khalil Ramos alternating as Jon, Kayla Rivera alternating as Susan, and Vien King and Reb Atadero alternating as Michael.

It’s a three-actor show, and director Robbie Guevara switched things up by permutating the six actors per show date, giving the audience a chance to see different dynamics.

What We Think of 9 Works Theatrical's tick, tick… BOOM!

We couldn’t help but compare Flores’ 2023 performance with his first portrayal of Jon Larson back in 2016. The veteran theater actor has come a long way since. There’s a noticeable depth and dedication in his approach to the role.

As for the rest of the cast, they each brought their own strengths to the stage. This production marks GMA actor-singer Khalil Ramos’ debut in theater, and he was impressively able to hold his own, bringing a more youthful take on Larson. Atadero stole the show with his perfect comedic timing, eliciting laughter from the crowd each time he switched into swing roles. King’s version of Michael was emotional and heartfelt. Manalang shined with her powerful vocals, while Rivera brought the sultry, New York flavor to her version of Susan.

And talk about a ’90s throwback! What a treat to spot every bit of ’90s nostalgia, from the fashion and hairstyles of each character to the script’s pop culture references. See if you can spot ’90s memorabilia, such as the vinyl record of West Side Story, Betamax and VHS tapes, posters of Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park With George, and a pile of cassette tapes arranged in the organized chaos that is Larson’s SoHo apartment. Keep an eye out for other impressive stage tricks.

This musical isn’t just for the struggling creative torn between two conflicting life choices. It also turns the spotlight on the adult who happily chose a corporate path away from artistic pursuits, the well-meaning parent who struggles to understand their child’s unconventional interests, and the childhood friends navigating the adulting world.

If, like the late and great Jonathan Larson, you find yourself experiencing milestone anxiety and are about to give up on your lifelong dreams, tick, tick...BOOM! will give you that spark of hope.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Spots

tick, tick...BOOM! is extended until September 3) at RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Tickets, priced from P1,500 to P3,000, are available through Ticket2Me.

Also read: Theater in Manila: Shows to See Onstage From July to September