⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four Stars)

In The Mad Ones, currently running at The Other Palace Studio, Samantha Brown’s yearning for freedom crashes headfirst into the weight of expectation in an emotional and poignant coming-of-age story. First seen Off-Broadway in 2017, this fan favourite musical by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk arrives in its first London outing with an intimate and moving production that showcases the strength of its cast and the enduring resonance of its themes.

At the heart of the story is Samantha Brown (Dora Gee), a teenager caught between the safety of her mother’s ambitions for her and the call of the open road, romanticised by her late best friend Kelly (Courtney Stapleton). Together, Gee and Stapleton deliver performances with remarkable emotional depth and vocal power and their chemistry is palpable as we navigate Samantha’s memories and grief.

Courtney Stapleton is a standout as the free-spirited and charismatic Kelly. Dora Gee’s Samantha is equally compelling, capturing the uncertainty and yearning of a young woman struggling to make big life decisions in the wake of tragedy. There’s a notable sapphic undercurrent to their relationship that adds a deeper layer of emotional complexity, though unfortunately this romantic thread feels underexplored until the very end of the show.

As Beverly, Samantha’s well-meaning but overbearing mother, Thea-Jo Wolfe injects humour and humanity into a character that could easily become a cliché. Gabriel Hinchliffe, as Samantha’s oblivious boyfriend Adam, provides welcome comic relief and warmth, rounding out a small but stellar cast.

The music - the reason this show gained its cult following - remains one of its strongest assets. Kerrigan and Lowdermilk's soaring score is packed with emotional songs that give each cast member ample opportunity to shine. However, the production’s choice to flow songs directly into scenes without pause can feel frustrating as the audience is left itching to applaud, only to be pulled into the next moment before they can respond. It’s a structural choice that mutes the impact of several standout vocal performances.

Director Emily Susanne Lloyd makes inventive use of The Other Palace Studio’s limited space while Reuben Speed’s set design, with shattered mirrors doubling as windows, creates a haunting, reflective environment that mirrors Samantha’s inner turmoil. The constant presence of the car on stage, emblematic of both freedom and loss in the show, is a great choice since it is so central to the story.

If the show falters anywhere, it’s in its narrative clarity. The nonlinear storytelling, with jumps in time and memory, can be difficult to follow, especially for audience members unfamiliar with the material. Still, this stylistic choice mirrors the fragmented, grief-stricken state of Samantha’s mind, even if it occasionally sacrifices coherence for atmosphere.

The Mad Ones runs at The Other Palace Studio until 1st June 2025.

Tickets are available here: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/the-mad-ones/