Be More Chill, the fan-favourite, sci-fi musical, has returned for a limited run at the Shaftesbury Theatre. We follow Jeremy and Michael, and a group of high schoolers, as they deal with growing up, finding themselves and learning what they are willing to do to get what they want.
Jeremy Heere (Scott Folan) is your average American teenager with a crush on a girl, a bit of a nerd and kind of bullied by the popular kids. One day, he learns about the Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor, or “The Squip” (Stewart Clarke), a tiny supercomputer in the form of a pill that can make all his dreams come true and make him the most popular kid in school. All he has to do is follow the instructions of the voice from the supercomputer that is now inside his head. Can “The Squip” really get him a date with his dream girl Christine (Miracle Chance)? And are the consequences really worth the risk? Besides, what could possibly go wrong!
The Tony Award-nominated musical, based on the novel by Ned Vizzini is a fun, vibrant and high energy show! It is a great return-to-theatre piece that will make you forget about lockdown restrictions for a while. The use of the lighting design by Tyler Micoleau, set design by Beowulf Boritt, projection design by Alex Basco Koch and sound design by Tyan Rumery was exciting and creative, and the whole show felt both futuristic and nostalgic at the same time.
The vocal performances by the whole cast were impressive and well-directed, but I must say that a highlight was when Michael Mell (Blake Patrick Anderson) made an entrance. The music and lyrics by Joe Iconis are witty and whimsical, and I am still finding myself singing along to the catchy songs.
If you are looking for a fun performance that will make you feel good I would highly recommend this show. It will have you laughing and gasping in all the right places.
Get your tickets for the limited run of Be More Chill before it’s too late.
Review by Olivia Jannesson
About Be More Chill
Be More Chill, the mind-bendingly, delightfully fun, hit musical comes to the Shaftesbury after its runaway success on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in London at the Other Palace, until the show was forced to close in March last year due to the pandemic. It is produced by Bill Kenwright with Jerry Goehring, Lisa Dozier and Paul Taylor-Mills. Be More Chill, based on the groundbreaking novel of the same name by Ned Vizzini, goes on sale today. With a Tony Award-nominated original score by Joe Iconis bursting with addictively catchy songs such as More than Survive, Be More Chill and the showstopping Michael in the Bathroom, Be More Chill is an international sensation.
The original London cast will reprise their roles: Blake Patrick Anderson (Michael Mell), Miracle Chance (Christine Canigula), Stewart Clarke (The Squip), Eloise Davies (Brooke Lohst), Scott Folan (Jeremy Heere), Christopher Fry (Mr Heere, Mr Reyes and others), James Hameed (Rich Goranski), Gabriel Hinchliffe (Ensemble), Renée Lamb (Jenna Rolan), Eve Norris (Ensemble), Millie O’Connell (Chloe Valentine), Miles Paloma (Jake Dillinger).
Be More Chill tells the atypical love story of a boy, a girl….and the supercomputer inside the boy’s head guiding him every step of the way. The boy; desperate to be loved. The girl; longing to be noticed. And the supercomputer…just wants to take over the world.
Be More Chill
Shaftesbury Theatre, London
