AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: A New Brain - The Theatre, The Students' Union Building, Manchester.

'A New Brain' is a semi-autobiographical account of popular Off-Broadway composer William Finn's ordeal of having an arteriovenus malformation. Suddenly finding that your life as you know it may well change irrevocably or come to an end completely isn't usually the stuff of musical theatre; however Finn, who has never been a stranger to wearing his compositional heart on his sleeve and using parts of his own life in his composing, felt compelled to tell this story. Writing both the music and lyrics to most of the songs immediately prior to his thankfully wholly successful operation and release from hospital. 

Finn's trademark jauntiness, juxtaposing catchy melodies with some quite direct lyrics, whilst injecting humour into something quite serious, could almost be said to compare (at least a little) with Somdheim's ouevre. Finn, along with his favoured collaborator, James Lapine, have created several well-known chamber style musicals [March Of The Falsettos, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Little Miss Sunshine], but I did not know anything of this musical prior to my visit to UMMTS at the Students' Union Theatre this evening. 

Performed in traverse [audience on two sides of a long 'catwalk'] the action was even more up-close-and-personal than it normally is in their intimate theatre space. It takes a certain kind of actor to be able to perform to an audience that is more or less nose-to-nose with you, as most actors (myself included) prefer to be on a stage and distanced from their audience. Hats off to all for coping so adroitly with this.

A bare stage with props and set items brought in and out as necessary by the cast worked superbly; as well as having the cast seated on either end of the catwalk in shadow, waiting to enter as required. This meant that the pace of the show never dipped, and helped to creat a more ensemble feel. 

Obviously the society can only cast from their current student body / membership, and so, perhaps a couple of the castings were not as Finn had written them to be [eg:Roger, who sings about being fat, when he was far from it] - but to be honest, none of that truly mattered in this show. The whole was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish, with a high energy, dynamic cast, and some lovely singing and choreography to boot. 

I am not particularly a fan of the Off-Broadway style of musical. There are several reasons, but perhaps the main one is that I normally find them too "American". The humour, the characters, the situations, all tend to be far more kitschy and US sit-com-ised than mainstream Broadway shows, and I have difficulty relating to them. However, for the current membership of this society it was certainly a very canny move - their youthfulness certainly helping - this style of show really worked for them. 

The whole ensemble were superb (the choral singing and harmonies especially). Directed by Tilly Price and Heather Harrison, the show's undulating nature of pits and troughs dynamics was excellently measured, keeping the balance between high comedy and pathos at all times. The through narrative easy to follow, and the characters - although not particularly relatable, and quite mono-dimensional perhps too - were all secure and worked well together. Muscially, we were also in very good hands, as MD Ben Nicoll and his band (at one side of the stage), created the right sound and musical feel for the show throughout. The choreography by Xavier Moras Spencer and Ella Kendrick, was always fun and always the right side of over-the-top and too kitsch.

A musical comedy it might be - (and of course we know from the start that Gordon's going to make it!) - but there are moments of real tragedy and pathos within, and the whole company this evening created a stellar production full of sincerity and high comedy. The standing ovation was certainly deserved.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 5.5.22