‘Pain! Ego! Art!

The Young Vic continues to knock it out the park with another fresh & electric production. First performed on Broadway in 2008, acquiring 7 Tony nominations in the process, this is its UK premiere and it’s a definite must-see. We are greeted by Narrator (an electric Giles Terera – Hamilton, Blues For An Alabama Sky) who is accompanied by the Band and four backing actor-singers. He is here to narrate his musical journey as a lost youth swapping his middle-class L.A. upbringing for punk rock and protest in 1980s Amsterdam and Berlin.

What follows is 2 hours and 35 minutes (with a 20 minute interval) of an extraordinary musical show unlike pretty much anything else on the West End right now. It’s the self-referential narrative style of Hedwig & The Angry Inch meets rock, punk, soul & gospel. A love story and tribute to the power of music. Narrator is our guide through his past, always on stage, whilst Youth (Keenan Munn-Francis) plays his younger self. There’s recreations of key moments of his life, with Mother (Rachel Adedeji) and the various other figures who played influential roles, as Narrator commentates – at times wise with retrospection and remorse, at others proud & gleeful at what he achieved and how he became the person he is today.

Terera is made for the role. We immediately feel safe in his capable hands – trusting without restraint in our tour guide to his personal past. He drips with charisma, impossible to look away from as he watches his past – we’re desperate to know his thoughts and reactions. His voice is extraordinary, powerful and genre-blending. The pace of the show is also fascinating. To paraphrase Whiplash, it both rushes and drags – feeling like an accurate reflection both of life and recalling its key moments. Munn-Francis is delightful as his younger self, mannerisms echo between both actors as we gradually see how Youth becomes Narrator. The band blow the both doors and roof off, they are always on the stage (à la Hadestown) and get to partake in proceedings in various subtle and not-so subtle ways.

A joyously sprawling concert, with heart and jokes and soul, this show is a very welcome wonder.

[4/5 stars]

The Passing Strange is at the Young Vic until Saturday 6th July.