Bare: A Pop Opera centres around a group of teenagers at a Catholic boarding school in Massachusetts in the late 90s, with the focal point on Peter and Jason, a closeted gay couple and the back and forth of their almost-relationship.
Secondary characters include Jason's sister, Nadia, with whom he is close, but their parent makes it clear that they favour her less than her brother; she projects her self-loathing onto her classmates and suffers from bulimia. Initially presented as the school slut, Ivy transforms from a 2D to a 3D character as she learns a hard lesson. Claire, Peter's mother, whose religious convictions stop her from accepting the truth she already knows about her son. The voice of reason and well-inserted sarcasm, Sister Chantelle is the sassy nun whose religious views may not be as strict as you'd think.
Of the 36 songs, a few stood a head above the rest. Claire's solo, "Warning," was the unexpected and well-received showstopper of the production. Chantelle's rich and soulful voice made "911! Emergency!" and "God Don't Make No Trash" nothing less than a joy to watch. Ivy never missed a note but outdid herself in "All Grown Up."
Unfortunately, I struggled to hear several times, particularly in some of the solos or duets or in quiet dialogue moments when the actor turned upstage, making it difficult to follow certain plot details. Even just softening the backing tracks by a few notches could make all the difference. At times the show felt slightly disjointed, but I saw it early in the run and hopefully with a few more performances under their belt all of the wrinkles will be ironed out.
A young show that will fit in well with a young crowd, but honestly for anyone who can remember the very real and often life-threatening struggles of being a teenager in a world that doesn't accept you for who you are.
Tickets here (£11.50-15.00)
Aug 5-28 | 12:20
Suitability: 14+ (Guideline)