With music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz, Be More Chill has enjoyed quite an extraordinary journey since its premiere at New Jersey's Two River Theater in 2015. Although its initial run attracted relatively little attention, the release of the original cast recording sparked a huge online following, eventually leading to a sold-out Off-Broadway production in 2018 and a Broadway transfer in 2019. The show made its UK debut at The Other Palace in February 2020, before its run was cut short by the pandemic, later returning for a limited West End engagement at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2021. Now it’s the turn of Sedos—one of London's leading amateur theatre companies, known for its ambitious programming and consistently high-quality productions. As a long-time fan of Be More Chill, it's always exciting to see a company take on a show I know and love so well, and I was particularly looking forward to seeing what they would bring to this production.
At its heart, Be More Chill is a coming-of-age musical that explores the pressures of fitting in, the complexities of teenage relationships, and the search for acceptance. The story follows Jeremy Heere, an awkward high school student who dreams of becoming popular and winning the affection of his crush, Christine Canigula. When he discovers the SQUIP, a tiny supercomputer that promises to transform his social standing, Jeremy sees an opportunity to reinvent himself. However, as he follows the SQUIP's increasingly demanding instructions, he begins to discover that becoming the person everyone wants him to be may come at a cost. With its witty humour, infectious pop-rock score, and relatable take on the insecurities of adolescence, Be More Chill asks how far we are willing to go to fit in, and what we might lose along the way.
For Sedos, Mirana Evans directs Tom Harper as Jeremy Heere, who delivers an assured performance. Harper’s confidence and strong vocals shine throughout, bringing an endearing quality to the awkward, insecure Jeremy. As his best friend Michael Mell, Kenny Adegbola is equally engaging, bringing plenty of charm and a wonderfully natural comedic touch to the role. Martha Khurshid delivers a lovely performance as Christine Canigula, with a gorgeous rendition of "I Love Play Rehearsal" and a delightful chemistry with Harper’s Jeremy. There’s a refreshing sincerity to Khurshid’s portrayal of the self-assured Christine, making her more vulnerable moments all the more affecting. Joe McWilliam is brilliant as the SQUIP, capturing all the menace and overbearing charm of the villain fans love to hate. His commanding stage presence and impressive vocal agility make for a particularly memorable performance of "The Pitiful Children".
As Rich Goranski, Reece Donn brings plenty of energy and humour to the role, with "The SQUIP Song" proving another standout moment. Joshua Sanchez is equally enjoyable as the popular and self-assured Jake Dillinger, skilfully balancing the character’s bravado with glimpses of vulnerability. Isabelle McFarlane is great fun as popular girl Chloe, while Hannah Smith brings a surprising warmth and sincerity to Brooke, the mean-girl-turned-love-interest. Completing the trio is Lara Sweeney as Jenna Rolan, whose desperation for likes and social media attention is wonderfully played. Together, the three are a riot in "The Smartphone Hour", gleefully recounting the dramatic events of when “Rich set a fire and he burned down the house…” It's an absolute blast! Rounding out the principal cast is Simon Evison, who is hilarious in his three roles as Mr. Heere, Mr. Reyes, and Scary Stockboy. He makes the most of every appearance, and his rendition of "The Pants Song" is one musical theatre dad number you definitely won’t want to skip.
Bringing a production like Be More Chill to the stage is no mean feat, and the creative and production team have done a wonderful job here. Coren Hall’s choreography is well suited to the style of the piece, confidently delivered, and always helps to move the story forward. Her use of the eight-strong ensemble is particularly effective, with each performer feeling like a natural part of the action rather than being shoehorned into the production. Mirana Evans’ direction brings us well-rounded characters and clear storytelling, ensuring that even with everything happening on stage, the plot remains easy to follow and the characters' individual journeys are never lost.
Sound design at the Bridewell is always a challenge, and Adam Coppard handles the space well. We didn’t quite catch the SQUIP’s opening dialogue, and the contrast between the reverb used during songs and its absence in dialogue occasionally felt a little harsh. However, the balance between the band and cast remained consistent, sound effects were well timed, and the addition of robotic effects during some of the dialogue was a particularly nice touch. Mark Steward and James ‘Chads’ Chadderton’s set design is particularly impressive. Be More Chill is traditionally performed on a proscenium stage with tabs—something the Bridewell doesn’t have. However, the design team has cleverly created a faux proscenium arch, complete with tabs and moving LED lights, which adds brilliantly to the show’s video game aesthetic. It’s an inventive use of the space and one of the production’s most striking visual elements.
Be More Chill is also a challenging score for any band, with its distinctive video game sounds and specialised instrumentation. Musical Director Oscar Denihan rises to the challenge with aplomb, bringing the score to life with energy and precision. His skilful work on the cast’s harmonies also pays off, with the vocals sounding gorgeous throughout.
Overall, Sedos’ production of Be More Chill is a lot of fun, capturing the humour, heart, and chaotic charm of this wonderfully weird, high-energy musical. With a mostly sold-out run that finishes at the end of the week, there’s not much time left to catch it, so if you’re planning on going, make sure you grab your tickets now! As for this superfan, I’ll be keeping my Be More Chill vinyl spinning and rewatching slime tutorials until the next production of this wacky little show comes along.
Review: Stuart James