Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: The Other Palace Studio, London
Cast: Dora Gee, Gabriel Hinchliffe, Courtney Stapleton, Thea-Jo Wolfe and Eliza Bowden
Full of huge, soaring songs, invigorating vocals, and the perfect mixture of humour and heartache, if you love contemporary musical theatre shows brimming with catchy pop songs, then The Mad Ones may just be your new obsession. Mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved…
Since the moment the cast recording was released in 2020, I have been waiting for a fully staged version of The Mad Ones to make its way to London and now that it’s here, it is everything I needed it to be and more. From the very first note sung by powerhouse Dora Gee, The Mad Ones sweeps you into its world with unapologetic emotional force. This production is an exceptional example of how music, performance, and storytelling can collide to create something truly unforgettable.
The casting could not be more perfect. Dora brings a sweet, tender tone to Sam, while Courtney Stapleton has an edgier tone to her voice that gives the character of Kelly a grounded, fiery presence — together they blend flawlessly, and the stunning, rich tones created when the cast sing as a whole are simply indescribable. The entire cast delivers with such authenticity that the emotion pours out of the show from start to finish and lingers for a long while afterwards. The incredibly strong on-stage chemistry between Dora and Courtney is a huge factor in the strength of the emotional rollercoaster that the show takes us on, and this version has added a palpable romantic connection between Sam and Kelly that gives the show an added emotional dimension.
Part of Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk’s brilliance lies in their ability to write some huge, complex numbers and yet the biggest most powerful moments in the show come from the simplest lyrics. Kerrigan and Lowdermilk’s songs are huge and demanding, yet the cast rises way above, making even the most complex numbers seem effortless. The performance is woven almost entirely through song, with very little dialogue — and this only heightens the emotional weight of each moment. A standout number, ‘Moving On’, is devastating in its vulnerability, especially when followed by a particularly raw scene that makes the message land even harder.
Thea-Jo Wolfe’s portrayal of Beverly adds a warm comedic touch, bringing levity without undercutting the gravity of the story. She beautifully balances Bev’s role as Sam’s mother as loving and protective, yet gently comedic, and with significantly less stage time that some of the other characters, she still manages to create a total understanding with the audience about who Bev is, and beautiful character arc, ode simply to her pure talent as a performer.
Gabriel Hinchcliffe offers a charming sweetness in the role of Adam, bringing light to Sam’s darker thoughts. His solo number ‘Simple As That’ is a moment of quiet brilliance, contrasting the complexity of Sam’s life with a rare glimpse of peace and clarity.
The emotional range of the show is amplified by Reuben Speed’s stunning set and Joanne Marshall’s gorgeous lighting design. The one large set piece provided remarkable flexibility, and the overall design used the very limited space perfectly. All the technical elements blended seamlessly to uplift the powerful performances.
One of the most resonant aspects of The Mad Ones is how it doesn’t shy away from the messiness of grief and the fear of change. ‘Yellow SUV’ encapsulates this perfectly, a song that not only explores loss, but the deeper ache of feeling left behind while the world moves on.
This production is an emotional rollercoaster — musically rich, thematically complex, and performed with absolute heart. It’s a story about memory, momentum, and the terrifying beauty of moving forward. Simply put, The Mad Ones is unmissable.
You can check out The Mad Ones at The Other Palace until the 1st June. Tickets available here.
Review by Rachel
**photo credit: @PerroLocoPro**
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