A TREAT TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUCH IMPRESSIVE, ICONIC PERFORMERS

By Katie Shaw | @katieeshaaw ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Written by Jonathan Caren and directed by Daniel Bailey, Hit Machine is a tale of two brothers, Wes and Alex, who share a troubled past, an uncertain future, and a passion for music.

We’re introduced to Wes in his impressive 8-bedroom house, prompting younger brother Alex to enquire if he’s a billionaire. Wes is an emotionally detached music producer whose happiness seems to depend on his career success, while Alex, who is far more likeable, is your classic unemployed friend on a Tuesday. The brothers’ differences are established quite quickly, with Wes avoiding talking about their childhood and being glued to his work phone, and Alex recalling their childhood camping trips and their shared love of music. Wes is unwilling to financially support their mom, and there is lingering tension around the subject of their father. These glaringly obvious character differences pave the way for cracks to form from the get go, only intensifying as the heart of the play unravels.

Despite these character differences, Josh Radnor as Wes and Noah Galvin as Alex have a brilliant stage dynamic, bouncing off each other in an unorthodox way. They lean into physical comedy but in a way that is not over-exaggerated, making something as simple as stretching after a workout amusing. They bicker and banter as siblings often do, but when Alex criticises Wes for the type of music he produces, those aforementioned cracks reach a boiling point, culminating in a fight between the brothers that is fraught with past trauma and present tension. The source of this tension doesn’t reveal itself in full until much later in the play, though on the surface Alex grows increasingly distressed by Wes’s inability to talk about anything other than his work, while Wes grows increasingly irritated by Alex’s presence.

Caren’s writing is excellent, creating characters that are complex but compelling, and he builds out a play that is somehow playful, earnest and entertaining all in one. It explores some serious topics and themes but the characters mostly mask this with humour or shrug it off with avoidance.

The play is brought to life by the stellar cast. Radnor is captivating in his portrayal of the grumpy, emotionally distant Wes. He is serious and stern, unyielding in his ‘my way or the highway’ mindset, yet is equally able to quietly communicate Wes’s underlying struggles: angst, guilt, and insecurity over his past and present. I have only ever watched Radnor’s performances on the screen, but after seeing this performance, I can confirm that his talent transcends the screen.

Galvin shines as Alex, carrying a loveable, quirky energy. We are introduced to him just as his engagement ends; he is directionless, supporting a dog on prozac, and sporting a mysterious shoulder injury. He balances vulnerability and charm beautifully – you can’t help but root for him. And, if you’re anything like me and are a fan of Broadway and West-End musicals, go to hear him sing. Witnessing a Broadway star like Galvin singing – albeit not in a full-blown, Broadway sense – is utterly magical. Galvin is a raw, hearty talent.

The third and final character is Defy The Leader, played by the superbly talented Khalil Madovi. Although he is only on for one scene (well, two if you count his song, but I’ll get to that), he offers so much in so little time. His character is a successful musician recently signed to Wes’s label, channeling his anger through his music. Defy unknowingly causes an increased strain on the brothers when he and Alex bond over their mutual rejection of microplastics and love of gospel music; a far cry from the mainstream music Wes’s label produces.

This productions’ score is brilliant, supported by Madovi’s three original songs: ‘Feel Me’, ‘Broom’, and ‘The Upside’. Hit Machine is certainly not a full blown musical like Matilda or Mamma Mia, but there are sprinklings of Madovi’s musical genuis throughout which add creative, entertaining and harmonious layers to this play and its story. It is always such a treat to be in the presence of such impressive, iconic performers, and Hit Machine’s cast is no different. Madovi even performs an original song, which is the cherry on top of this already supreme 90-minute play. Hit Machine is certainly not one to be missed.

Hit Machine is running at Soho Theatre until Saturday 15 August.

WEBSITE

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐