Supersonic Man by Chris Burgess. Southwark Playhouse, the Little, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 until 03 May 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Louis Burgess.

Supersonic Man by Chris Burgess. Southwark Playhouse, the Little, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 until 03 May 2025,

4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“Hits the bull's eye.”

Hits the bull's eye even if it is about thirty minutes too long. Minus the interval and not directed by the author this rather good musical about a thirty something man fighting motor neurone disease could have been even better than it already is. The score is tuneful, the lyrics have bite and it is strongly cast although it would have helped had the two leads, handsome and good singers though they are, actually had some chemistry essential as apart from being about sheer bloody mindedness it is also about a loving relationship. But for the audience it is aimed at, and producer Richard Lambert knows how to provide that very well indeed, it is ideal. A musical about motor neurone disease is initially something to wonder at but if Stephen Hawking can be the subject of a film and loads of television pieces why not a musical? In any case Supersonic Man is more about a gay man in his prime afflicted with the disease for which there is no cure who refuses to lie down but fights back by going on social media, reality shows and seeking ever more extreme surgery – the supersonic man bit – in order to survive. It is loosely based on real people, Dr Peter Scott Morgan and his partner Francis, the first gay men to  get married. Then Peter got the disease and fought it using robotics, radical surgery and AI technology, hence the title. He was also featured in a TV documentary – Peter the human Cyborg. This show, however, is not about them but about two young men Adam and Darrylwho met in Brighton under the pier and consummated their relationship there. Musically it is in the hands of  Aaron Clingham on the keyboards, a major plus even at the worst of times of which this is not one, and  Dylan Aiello and Dominic Sullivan deliver their big numbers well while as the third man in their lives, and several other roles -  a diminutive Lucky Pierre is the main one -  James Lowrie shows loads of  versatility even if  in his Scottish persona he irritated the hell out of me. That leaves Jude St James and Mai Wen James for the various female roles and they are just as good. Everyone gets a chance to shine and duly do although the supersonic stuff, especially  when Adam out cold in the operating theatre turns up in a Cyborg catsuit which only makes one wonder where the zip fasteners are rather than illustrating the Supersonic Man title reasoning. The rambling about their meeting in Brighton does not really add anything to it worth having and the set – a view of what pruports to be the Brighton seafront – is just a pointless distraction. Scissors were needed. That said the show deserves to fill the Little and with some doctoring could as easily have filled the Large. But fringe shows don't get out of town try outs, they are out of town try outs.

Cast

Dylan Aiello – Adam

Dominic Sullivan – Darryl

James Lowrie – Ben

Jude StJames – Ruth

Mai Wen Davies – Shaz

Creatives

Director – Chris Burgess

Musical Director/Orchestrations – Aaron Clingham

Choreographer – Philip Joel

Designer – David Shield

Lighting Designer – Richard Lambert