London debut for American musical writers
The Other palace (Studio)
Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk are established musical theatre writers in the US but The Mad Ones is their London debut. It’s the story of a teenager driving her new car with her mother, her boyfriend and her dead best friend, and going back in time to wonder what she’s doing with her life.
[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]
5 stars ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
Paul Vale for The Stage rated it highly: ‘It’s refreshing to see such an experimental structure in a musical: it jumps around in time while playing fast and loose with the fourth wall. This format seems to allow the writers far more scope for creativity, each scene informing the narrative, as if they’re applying a fine wash to a painting, leading to a much greater depth of colour. It’s backed up by a beautifully crafted, compelling score that veers confidently between searing, heartfelt ballads and quirky comedy with whip-smart lyrics.’ He continued, ‘For a small-scale show in a studio space, Lloyd’s flawless production punches well above its weight, from the pitch-perfect cast to Reuben Speed’s ominous, fragmented glass set design, which mirrors Sam’s shattered life.’
4 stars ⭑⭑⭑⭑
LondonTheatre1‘s Chris Omaweng described it as ‘A charming journey that calls its audiences to consider what really matters in life, it’s sweet but not saccharine, multilayered but not overly complex.’
3 stars ⭑⭑⭑
Tom Ambrose at LondonTheatre wasn’t so impressed: ‘Although there is enough here to have an enjoyable, thought-provoking evening of musical theatre, it is not always clear what the point of the story is and, worse yet, The Mad Ones doesn’t know when it has outstayed its welcome.’
Harry Bower at All That Dazzles observed, Thematically…it’s a crowded field—grief, maternal pressure, queerness, friendship, teenage angst and relationship struggle, academic expectation, the fragility of youth. All rich veins, but rarely mined in depth.’
Cindy Marcolina for BroadwayWorld called it ‘a sweet contemporary musical with a heart of gold.’
Critics’ Average Rating 3.6⭑
The Mad Ones can be seen at the Other Palace until 1 June 2025. Click here to buy tickets direct from the theatre.
If you’ve seen The Mad Ones at The Other Palace, please post your review and rating here