This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Be More Chill at the invite of The Old Joint Stock.
Be More Chill at The Old Joint Stock: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐”Darkly fun”
Directed by James Edge, book by Joe Tracz with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis
Based on a 2004 novel by Ned Vizzini, Be More Chill features a group of high school students, including, Jeremy (Tom Dickerson), his crush Christine (Shannon Bourne) and his supposed best friend Michael (Jack Carr). After taking a suspicious pill, Jeremy brings online The Squip (Tommy Fouweather), an AI with the ability to override Jeremy’s own behaviour.
This is a fast, tech-inspired musical with plenty to please Broadway fans, and it pays broad homage to The Matrix, The Terminator, High School Musical and The Big Bang Theory as well as Shakespeare. It features video footage of current and past global influencers in the media. The bold video wall forms the rear of the set with great lighting linking all the screens together. The music shifts between being fun and intimidating very smoothly and only adds to the frenetic story being told.
Tom Dickerson‘s transformation from ubergeek to cool kid and then out of control misogynist is fast across this two-hour and ten-minute show (plus interval), and his wardrobe changes help reflect this. Jack Carr is heartbreaking as Michael fighting away his tears in the bathroom of a house party.
As ever, the black box theatre of The Old Joint Stock provides a perfectly intimate space for personal storytelling, with the actors making eye contact throughout suitable moments. And thankfully, no audience interactions.
A darkly fun musical, Be More Chill is at The Old Joint Stock until 31st August 2025. Book tickets here: oldjointstock.co.uk/whats-on/be-more-chill.
