Transferring from a run at the Playground Theatre, a new cast and some judicious rewrites sees Rehab The Musical at new London venue, Neon 194 for a limited engagement.
It might not seem an immediately obvious subject matter for a musical, but Grant Black is writing from experience. Having checked himself into rehab three decades ago, the things he saw stayed with him and inspired a collaboration with Murray Lachlan Young to pen the music and lyrics for this rock-tastic musical.
With a book by Elliot Davis that’s easy to follow, Rehab is an eye-opening musical, and one in which Gary Lloyd directs an impressive cast who ensure the complexities of these characters we meet are laid bare.
It’s set just before the turn of the millennium and introduces us to a musical superstar named Kid Pop; imagine a nineties boy band rolled up into one person. Caught by the paparazzi snorting cocaine, he’s ordered by the court to spend sixty days in rehab, and along the way discovers that it might be the inhabitants of The Glade, rather than the institution itself, that are his salvation.
It’s an eclectic mix of people that Kid Pop meets at The Glade, bought together by their different addictions; from drugs and alcohol to over-eating, human vices are revealed in often surprising fashion. Then there’s the corrupt Malcolm Stone, a PR guru who will definitely remind you of someone, played with devilish wit by Keith Allen, and his no-nonsense assistant, Beth (Jodie Steele) to remind us that temptation is everywhere.
With a strong central character attempting to face his demons, we also see Kid Pop warming to, and empathising with, his new living companions. It helps the audience to see these people from different viewpoints and shines a light on the driving forces behind addictions.
Chaotic at times, it’s a surprisingly heart-warming tale, the introduction of Lucy, played beautifully and with real heart by Maiya Quansah-Breed, provides a romantic angle for the musical to explore.
It’s a strong cast; Mica Paris as Martha provides powerful vocals that raise the roof of this decadent new venue, while Oscar Conlon-Morrey soars as Phil, making the audience lament and laugh with equal force.
Leading this brilliant ensemble as Kid Pop is the supremely talented Christian Maynard, who completely embodies this fallen pop-star. The whole character arc becomes a joy to watch in the hands of Maynard.
The story feels tighter this time round, though it could benefit from some further trims. But the writing does allow for a strangely beguiling mix of music that swings from high comedy in numbers such as ‘Wanker’ and ‘The Cheese Song’, to big emotional ballads like ‘Poor Me, Pour Me Another One’.
It won’t come as a surprise that there are some heavy subjects tackled here, and Rehab The Musical is at its best when it is sensitively, but unashamedly, addressing them.
This is a show with brilliantly drawn characters and wonderful songs, and its strong cast certainly adds to the appeal. It’s made great strides since its previous outing, and short of becoming an addiction, Rehab The Musical could easily become your next guilty pleasure.
