Cult rock musical Bare is to transfer to Greenwich Theatre this October following it’s sold out run at the Union Theatre in April. That was the show’s European Premiere following it’s run in Los Angeles in 2000 and Off-Broadway in 2004. Here’s what we thought when THN saw it back in April:
A cult classic in its own right, Bare – The Rock Musical has a huge following of fans who have never see the show performed live – this run at the Union theatre in Southwark is the production’s European premiere.
With music by Damon Intrabartolo, book and lyrics by Jon Hartmete and directed by Paul Taylor-Mills, Bare explores the story of American high schoolers in a co-ed Catholic boarding school who are anything but the epitome of good religious angels. Reminiscent of Spring Awakening, from the teen rebellion throughout right down to the first act closing sex scene, Bare focuses on how what’s wrong isn’t always wrong and the exploration young adults are going to make as they move through the transition of teen to adult.
Well staged with a minimum of space, this production definitely defied my expectations. A pulsating rock score helps the show move along at a quick pace. The two leads were thoroughly believable as teens struggling with their sexuality, with Michael Vinsen as the naively optimistic Peter a joy to watch as he realises that perhaps the world isn’t quite ready for him and his open sexuality. Lilly-Jane Young was strong as Ivy, hopelessly in love with school stud Jason, a closeted homosexual. The scene in which Ivy must confront her unwanted pregnancy allows the actress to shine. Bare is not the most original telling of teen rebellion but the cast’s vigor and vitality throughout the show made up for that. Check the daily returns to try and grab yourself a ticket to this smart production.
Casting is yet to be announced for the Greenwich transfer but if they can keep the same cast as the production we saw this musical has all the makings of a success story. Bare will run for a very limited time from 9th to 27th October and you can book tickets here.
Source: WOS
