BWW Reviews: THRILL ME, Tristan Bates Theatre, April 2011

Thrill Me is the type of new musical which could so easily get overlooked - musical thrillers aren't generally the most obvious choice for a large proportion of the theatre-going public. But with a handful of well-deserved Off-Broadway award nominations under its belt, Thrill Me is the type of show which you'd be wise to make the effort to see.

Based on a true story, the show follows the story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two young men living in 1920s Chicago, and explores their very twisted relationship, and the lengths to which they'll go to sustain it, though each for very different reasons. As you would expect from a thriller, the tone is ominous and suspenseful, but the ever-present tension is balanced out well with touches of dark humour to help keep the characters three-dimensional.

Bringing those characters to life are Jye Frasca as Leopold and George Maguire as Loeb. Frasca is more well-known for big West End hits such as Jersey Boys, Wicked and Mary Poppins, while Maguire has most recently finished a run in the UK premiere of Bright Lights, Big City. Both demonstrate their considerable dramatic talent in these roles, and do an impressive job of portraying the tense, complex relationship between Leopold and Loeb with equal parts manipulation, fear and love. They share fantastic chemistry and effectively explore a complicated, and at times frighteningly controlling, relationship, and they do so with subtlety. The direction is tight and focused around adding psychological weight to the small but vital interactions which are so essential in creating this dynamic.

Musically, the piece is beautiful, and both cast members are vocally strong enough to do justice to the powerful, angst-filled melodies which help to sustain or propel the tension of the story as required. With just a single piano, the score compliments the story beautifully and works in harmony with the simple design and dim, moody lighting to contribute to the overall sinister feel of the piece. In general, the creative team has done a great deal with relatively little, proving once again that you don't need a big budget to put on an entertaining and engaging show.

Thrill Me is on at Tristan Bates Theatre until the 30th April.

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