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He had it coming: Burnt Up Love @finborough

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Out of the darkness and shadows, three characters emerge. Lit only with candlelight or flashlights, a gripping tale by writer and performer Ché Walker about crime, punishment, love, and loss emerges. The fast pace conveys a sense of urgency to make up for lost time, lost opportunities, and what might have been. It’s currently playing at the Finborough Theatre .  We first meet Mac (Ché Walker) in prison, serving time for a crime he committed. With only a photo of his young daughter, Scratch, to keep him company, he looks for her upon release. But Scratch (Joanne Marie Mason) isn’t the teacher, lawyer or dancer Mac imagined while incarcerated over the years she might be. Instead, Scratch is in and out of trouble, on the edge, angry and violent. A chance encounter one night with JayJayJay (Alice Walker) forms a loving bond and gives her a moment of stability. But Scratch’s demons and restlessness mean trouble does not seem far away. Scratch's random act of thoughtless violence against

I Miss The Mountains: Fly More Than You Fall @Swkplay

Production photo

Losing a parent when you’re still figuring out who you are and your place in the world seems like a bummer of a topic for a musical. But somehow, Fly More Than You Fall tackles grief and loss with a light touch, catchy music and enthusiastic performances. While it may not offer great insight into the exploration of grief, it gives pause for thought and a few laughs on the way. After all, death doesn’t take a holiday, and nobody gets out of here alive. We just hope it doesn’t happen too soon. It’s currently playing at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. 

We first meet Malia as she prepares for summer writers' school. She aspires to be a writer and has a story in development. Encouraged by her mother to keep going, she is looking forward to the summer. But the summer school is cut short when her mother is diagnosed with stage four cancer. Back home so her mother can spend her last days with her family, Malia has to grow up quickly and find her voice while watching her mother slip away. 


There are some fine performances here. Robyn Rose-Li as Malia gives the show its heart with an emotional and rousing performance. Keala Settle, known for a big voice gives a strong performance as her mother. Nat Zegree’s music and lyrics are inventive and catchy, showcasing a variety of musical styles. The songs also give the cast plenty of opportunities to showcase their vocals. It is a pity there isn’t a cast album… Yet. 

There are some nice touches throughout the production. Everything is shades of pastels at first, but grey creeps in from the death and loss. The set consisting of a pile of paper is no doubt a metaphor for the mountain the characters are climbing—real and imagined. 

Musicals heighten emotions at the best of times. As much as I admired Next To Normal, watching it felt like being a party to the trauma and as if you needed to be in therapy. Here, the show tackles grief and loss with sweetness and positivity about living each day and loving it, as you never know what might come next. It’s a message that comes across without being too preachy or sentimental. Or too American… 

Directed by Christian Durham with music direction by Arlene McNaught, Fly More Than You Fall is at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 23 November. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Craig Fuller

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