Turbine Theatre, London – until 26th February 2023
Reviewed by Mitzi Luck
4****
No Limits – A Song Cycle written by Sam Thomas and directed by Dean Johnson explores the lives of a series of 20 somethings as they navigate life in early adulthood. The show is set in a London apartment, which was echoed beautifully by the setting at the Turbine Theatre. The simple set pared with the exposed brick and cosy theatre made the perfect setting for the intimate glimpses into the young characters’ lives. Each character brings a certain trait to the stage, ranging from the #Romantic to the #Fighter.
The series of tales told by the 20 somethings feel painfully familiar to an audience of any age as the cast grapples with some of the tougher experiences life has to throw at them. The song cycle moves dramatically through highs and lows and back again, with each song bringing its own unique personality to the stage. The show opens with a light heartened and funny but no less meaningful song, titled ‘Headfuck’, sung by the #Romantic character, played by Owen Clayton, which had the audience laughing out loud already. ‘Every Girl Needs a Mother’ sung by the #Dreamer character, played by Natalie May Paris, shows the careful handling of all issues faced by young adults, with a truly moving song devoted to the characters lost mother. Natalie May Paris was breath-taking!
The show artfully paints a picture of the nuance between the sometimes superficially amusing lived experience of the characters and the painful emotions that hide behind. Like the characters, the show doesn’t linger too long on the sad moments and picks up with another amusing tale. ‘Confessions of a Catfish’ sung by the #Catfish character, played by Hannah Lowther, is the most delightfully funny exploration of one young woman’s quest for love, followed by ‘Two Weeks’ sung by the #Funemployed character, played by Mary Moore, a rousing song about career lows and being stuck in an unhappy job.
A highlight was the song ‘The Ballad of The One-Night Stand’ sung by the #Romantic, played by Owen Clayton, and the #Fighter, played by Michael Mather, a song about hoping for more in life and love but being too scared to try; it captures the heart of the musical, along with beautiful use of choreography. In contrast, at times the characters remain still to allow the raw emotion to shine; ‘Grow Up’ sung by Michael Mather, shows the star’s vocal power and captures the heartbreak from a son to his father.
No Limits explores so many themes but underlying it all is a wonderful message of hope and self-discovery. All the cast show the impact of their vocal range throughout. The crescendo of the show erupts in the final song as they all look for meaning and hope in their own journeys. The standing ovation was well deserved by all.