Southwark Playhouse 7 June – 8 July. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
The London premiere of Working has a stellar pedigree, crammed full of songs by prize winning songwriters (James Taylor, Stephen Schwartz, Mary Rodgers, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant and Lin-Manuel Miranda), and performed by a dream cast with gorgeous voices. Based on Studs Terkel’s 1974 book compiling the oral histories of American workers, and with additional songs after new interviews reflected the 21st century workplace, the cast play multiple characters discussing their jobs and life.
The monologues are acted with a realistic passion, and are listened to with wide-eyed admiration or sympathy by the six young performers making their professional debut. You wouldn’t realise if it hadn’t been pointed out to you, as their dance moves and characterisation are wonderful. These guys are obviously having the time of their lives, and making the most of a golden opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business. This idea of the next generation learning and striving for more is a theme that builds momentum throughout the show, with the female cast belting out “Cleanin’ Women”, and Peter Polycarpou breaking your heart with a sublime version of Stephen Schwartz’s “Fathers and Sons”.
Polycarpou should come with a health warning – that man can pull on your heartstrings with just one note. His rendition of “Joe”, about a widowed pensioner describing his empty life is a masterclass in musical acting – nuanced and brilliantly observed. Gillian Bevan raises the roof with an energetic and hysterical performance of “It’s an Art” as a waitress that can only be described as the anti-Mrs Overall. Dean Chisnall brings a purity and dignity to “The Mason” that will give you goose bumps, Siubhan Harrison does the same with “Millwork”, and Liam Tamne is simply adorable as the fast-food worker singing “Delivery”. Tamne and Harrison’s duet “A Very Good Day” is another song that will get your bottom lip quivering – sung beautifully by two low paid care workers looking after other people’s families to support their own. Krysten Cummings is equally impressive in the high octane and slower numbers, a gorgeous voice and exquisite body language differentiating each character.
The stories and characters are fascinating, some funny, some poignant, but all having something important to say about life. Luke Sheppard has created a beautifully framed and wonderfully uplifting, emotional show, with Fabian Aloise’s energetic choreography a perfect match for the sublime music. There isn’t a dud song or any filler in Working, just sheer class throughout. A must see.