What does it take to make a hit record? To chase success and then somehow hold on to it? Jonathan Caren’s absorbing new play examines these questions in its world premiere at Soho Theatre, blending sharp storytelling with infectious beats and a compelling set of characters.
Wes, we learn, is the owner of a record label and, at first glance, appears to be a successful one. “Are you a billionaire?” asks younger brother Alex, who has come to visit. It is the dynamic between these two siblings that drives the play forward. Wes doesn’t want to look back at the past and shows little sympathy for his mother’s financial struggles. Alex, on the other hand, yearns for the days of their childhood, when they went on camping trips and made music together.
For Alex, it is their father who is the problem, and this difference of opinion is just the starting point of the conflict between them. While Wes has achieved a degree of success with a thriving business, beautiful home and seemingly perfect family, he’s struggling to hold on to it all. Alex, meanwhile, is still chasing his dreams and wants his brother’s help to achieve them. More than that, though, he craves his brother’s love and approval.
The third character in this intimate drama is Defy The Leader, a successful musician newly signed to Wes’s label. Not without his own struggles, Defy becomes an unexpected catalyst for further conflict when he takes an interest in Alex’s compositions.
Amelia Jane Hankin’s set design creates the chic home that Wes has overextended himself to buy. Modern sofas are framed by smoked glass and platinum records. A designer lamp sits almost pretentiously in the corner, becoming a subtle symbol of the different paths both brothers have taken in life.
Noah Galvin shines as Alex, giving the character a wonderfully quirky energy. His tough exterior quickly crumbles in the face of rejection from his brother or when fangirling over the arrival of his musical hero. Galvin effortlessly balances humour and heartbreak, making Alex’s need for validation as relatable as it is frustrating. We are treated to just a few snippets of song from Galvin and, while this is a play rather than a musical, it is hard not to wish for more opportunities to hear this Broadway star’s sublime vocals.
Josh Radnor, best known to audiences for his leading role in How I Met Your Mother, is equally impressive as Wes. Initially cold, detached and determined to maintain control, Radnor gradually peels back the layers of a man terrified of losing everything he has built. Beneath Wes’s confidence lies insecurity, guilt and a deep fear of failure, all of which Radnor communicates with remarkable subtlety. The chemistry between him and Galvin is superb, creating a sibling relationship that feels entirely authentic, filled with affection, resentment and years of unresolved hurt.
Khalil Madovi brings a charismatic presence to Defy The Leader. Effortlessly cool but never one-dimensional, he ensures that Defy is more than simply a plot device caught between the two brothers. Madovi gives the character a thoughtful intelligence and quiet vulnerability, particularly as the realities of commercial success begin to collide with artistic integrity. His performance captures the play’s wider questions about the cost of fame and the compromises demanded by the music industry.
Hit Machine offers an added treat for music lovers. The discussions about how songs are constructed and what turns a track into a hit are fascinating. The question of what makes a hit record might never be fully answered, but Caren makes exploring it thoroughly entertaining. Not every scene lands with the same urgency, and there are moments when conversations linger a little longer than necessary, slightly easing the play’s momentum. His script is often deeply profound, yet balances those moments with a biting wit that makes the play genuinely funny. Galvin delivers many of the evening’s biggest laughs, though Radnor also demonstrates a surprising flair for physical comedy.
As well as taking on the role of Defy The Leader, Khalil Madovi is responsible for the music alongside Ben Harper and CJ Harper. The original songs fit seamlessly into the production, enhancing rather than interrupting the drama. What makes them particularly effective is the way their creation becomes woven into the narrative itself, allowing audiences to witness the artistic process unfold alongside the characters’ emotional journeys.
The music may be the cherry on top of the cake, but it is Caren’s witty and poignant story of two brothers at opposite ends of the socio-economic spectrum that gives Hit Machine its beating heart. It strikes all the right notes with its exploration of family, ambition and music, while beneath the conversations about chart success and commercial pressures lies an affecting examination of the need to be seen by the people we love most.
Funny, insightful and emotionally satisfying, Hit Machine proves that while there may be no guaranteed formula for creating a hit record, Jonathan Caren has come remarkably close to creating a hit play.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
