“tick, tick . . . Boom!” Explodes on Stage

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The cast of the Palisades play is excellent and include (left to right) Bimei Flores, Kathrine Rogers, Destin Bass, Charlotte Nevins, Ian Riegler and Antony Galang.                                                                        Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

The musical tick, tick . ..Boom!, which opened at Theatre Palisades on September 6 and will run through October 13, is thought-provoking, entertaining evening filled with great performances.

This Broadway-quality production should not be missed by residents.

“It’s one of the best shows we’ve ever done at the Theatre,” co-producer Martha Hunter told a friend in the theater lobby Saturday night before the show.

She’s right. It seems as if every TP production lately takes the community theater a notch up, not only in play selection, but also in performances and direction.

This is a musical, but don’t think of it as a standard, such as Oklahoma or All that Jazz or even Sondheim’s Into the Woods.

Jonathan Larson, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for, tick, tick . .. .Boom! was his second musical, finished in 1991. His first Superbia, a futuristic story, never received a full production, but is referenced in this largely autobiographical production.

Larson started working on Rent, during that same time period.

He died the day before the first preview performance of Rent, the show that would play to sold-out crowds for more than a decade. He was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Musical and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

This show, which Larson described as a rock musical, has a stage band of  Robbie Simmons (keyboard), Xinqian Li (guitar) and Step LeHane (drums).

The show opens with the musical number 30/90.

Jon, played by Destin Bass, explains his angst that he will turn 30 in 1990. He sings, “Years are getting shorter. Lines on your face are getting longer. Feel like you’re treading water, but the riptide’s getting strong.”

As he goes through the show, we understand, it’s not simply about another birthday, instead it’s the questions many of us ask, “Have I made a difference? When do I give up on a dream?”

It’s ironic that Jon agonizes over whether to stop composing and maybe take a “day” job, with help from his best friend Michael.

He works as a waiter in the Moondance Diner on weekends and composes during the week, which he did from 1985, to when Rent was finally going to be produced in 1995.

His girlfriend Susan is ready to get on with the rest of “their lives,” but that may not mean composing for Jon.

The entire play set in 1990 in New York City is 90 minutes long and done without an intermission. Actors are constantly on stage, which has a minimal set and imaginative costuming.

Destin Bass (Jon) carries the show with a strong presence, great character choices and just a lovely voice.

But he’s matched by everyone in the cast. Bimei Flores who plays his girlfriend Susan is a force to be reckoned with. Whenever she’s on stage, you eagerly anticipate her next song.

Bimei Flores plays Jon’s girlfriend Susan.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

Fun is Antony Galang (Michael) and his wisdom about Newark Airport.  Once again he has an exceptional voice.

Members of the ensemble were talented and could have easily been cast in lead roles.

Charlotte Nevins, who is making her Los Angeles debut, is originally from the Bahamas. Katherin Rogers is originally from Wyoming and this is her debut at Theatre Palisades.

Ian Riegler, who was raised in Pacific Palisades, is appearing in his first musical since graduating high school.

Director Lindsay Johnson has done an exceptional job with the cast and staging. She wrote in Director’s Notes “Jonathan Larson did not live to see his dream become a wildly successful reality. So LIVE, LOVE, and DREAM those big scar dreams!”

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