Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz’s peppy BE MORE CHILL, as euphoric as ever on Broadway

• By drediman
• March 11, 2019
• No Comments

Will Roland leads the cast of Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz’s “Be More Chill” at the Lyceum Theatre. Photo by Maria Baranova.

Last night, Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz’s Be More Chill made the leap from Off-Broadway cult hit to the Broadway mainstream. I’m happy to report that the expanded version of the musical, which tells the story of a dorky teenager who invests in a science fictional pill (known as a “Squip”) to up his self-esteem and popularity in high school, feels more at home on the Great White Way than it did at the Pershing Square Signature Center. When I encountered the musical Off-Broadway, the production’s brash, perky energy verged on the obnoxious in the relatively small house. At the larger – but still intimate – Lyceum Theatre, Be More Chill can be as loud and bright as it wants to be.

Some may find the musical’s frenetic energy and juvenile worldview tiresome. I, however, found these qualities to be actually refreshing, but perhaps unintentionally. Yes, the musical is admittedly sophomoric in its depiction of girls and idea of a good joke. But that’s part of the fun. In these ways, Be More Chill is an unfiltered jump into the pixelated mind of a heterosexual teenage boy, a viewpoint rarely captured so sincerely in the theater as it is here. The musical is based on Ned Vizzini’s 2004 book of the same name, which has been adapted with relish by Mr. Tracz and Mr. Iconis. Mr. Tracz’s book is a giddy combination of B-movie goofiness and vintage pop cultural references (e.g., 8-bit video games, 80s zombie flicks, Saved by the Bell), which together create cartoonish bubblegum pop with tons of heart. And of course there’s Mr. Iconis’s driving, energizing score, which supplies the show its euphoric kick.

Stephen Brackett’s tight, peppy staging remains a treat. He’s aided by a tireless, pumped-up cast of just ten, all of whom appeared in the Off-Broadway edition of the show. It’s a joy to see these young, hardworking performers, many of them loyal personal friends of Mr. Iconis, finally on Broadway (for some, their first time!) in one of his shows. The production is led by a lovable, heartfelt performance by Will Roland, best known to theater fans for his excellent work in the original company of Dear Evan Hansen. Other notable turns include the appealing George Salazar (his soulful rendition of the anxiety-driven anthem “Michael in the Bathroom” stops the show) and the coolly handsome Jason Tam (here an intentional dead ringer for “Matrix”-era Keanu Reeves). But really, each one of these talented, big-voiced actors is an idiosyncratic delight. Happily, each get ample opportunity to shine on their own, which they do brightly.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

BE MORE CHILL
Broadway, Musical
Lyceum Theatre
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Open run