Be More Chill at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London Review

Reviewed by Caroline S

Visiting the theatre last night felt like kind of a big deal. The last time I saw a show was in mid-February 2020. The cast ad-libbed some jokes about viruses, and I had some nervous thoughts about the person with a nasty cough at the end of the row. A month later, we all know what happened.

After a fifteen-month closure, the Shaftesbury Theatre has sprung back into life with the high school musical comedy, Be More Chill. I was lucky enough to attend the press night along with an enthusiastic audience who all seemed very happy to be out of the house and in front of a stage again. In fact, everyone I encountered had a smile on their face, from the security and box-office staff to the ushers and ice-cream sellers.

Maybe that’s because the enthusiasm and energy of this show is as infectious as… no, let’s not go there.

First produced at a small New Jersey theatre in 2015, Be More Chill’s popularity grew by word of mouth and through young fans sharing their versions of the show’s songs on social media, culminating in a six-month Broadway run in 2019.

It tells the story of Jeremy Heere (played in the London cast by Scott Folan), a nerdy outcast who wants to fit in with the popular kids at high school. He’s offered a pill containing a SQUIP – that’s a Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor – a super-computer that will implant in his brain and tell him all the right things to say and do to be cool. Of course, things turn out not to be so simple.

Appearing to Jeremy as a figure resembling Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, the SQUIP progresses from helpful digital assistant to malevolent Svengali with designs on humankind. The SQUIP is played marvellously by Stewart Clarke, who clearly relishes the villainous role and his increasingly magnificent costumes.

The songs are high energy and the small cast delivers them brilliantly. Particularly likeable are Blake Patrick Anderson as Jeremy’s equally geeky but ultimately heroic best friend Michael and Miracle Chance as love-interest Christine, but all the performers hold their own and contribute to a slick and engaging show.

The staging is simple, with a large screen as a background reflecting the slightly retro Matrix and gaming themes. We were lucky to have fab seats in the stalls, but the production would, I’m sure, be equally enjoyable from anywhere in the house. The theatre takes Covid-19 precautions seriously and the ventilation system has been upgraded to replace the air in the auditorium every seven minutes.

I must admit that I wasn’t sure if the show would be for me from the little I knew about it beforehand, but I was immediately carried along by the happy and positive message and the catchy tunes. I couldn’t have asked for a better return to theatregoing, and if I hadn’t been too busy smiling and clapping I might have felt a bit emotional. My companion for the evening was my young teenage daughter who absolutely loved it and wants to bring her friends along for a future performance!

From a parent’s perspective, the script does have a fair bit of swearing and references to sex, drugs, and suicide/self-harm which those considering a family trip should be aware of. I’d say this is suitable for age 12+.

So, if you’re venturing back to the theatre this summer, if you want a feel-good show that will ensure you leave the theatre smiling, I’d recommend that you take the upgrade and Be More Chill!

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £22 including fees

Be More Chill is at the Shaftesbury Theatre London from 30 June to 5 September 2021.

For more information or to book tickets visit https://www.bemorechillmusical.com/ or call the box office on 020 7379 5399

The Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP