Stalled: A New Musical, King’s Head Theatre Review
Photo by Johan Persson.
Written by Jenna for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Stalled the Musical – A funny, moving exploration of the beauty and complexity of Mother-Daughter relationships and a reminder of the need for kindness, in even the smallest of interactions with others.
Have you ever met someone in the ladies toilets and felt compelled to tell them your innermost secrets, biggest problems and to help solve theirs? I know I have! Stalled is a new musical set in a Seattle office bathroom, and you feel as though you are stepping into a chic ladies room as you arrive at the intimate Kings Head Theatre. Above us was the small-but-perfectly formed orchestra, whom I enjoyed glancing up at during the performance. The set design by Emily Bestow was excellent; it comprises sleek sinks and bathroom stalls, providing various platforms for the actors to stand on throughout the show. The costume design, also by Emily Bestow, allowed the audience a quick insight into each character’s personality and social status. The costumes also add some comical moments including ensemble characters in sparkly bathrobes singing into toilet brush microphones!
The all-female cast of Stalled is quite simply superb. Led by Lauren Ward (Dear Evan Hansen, Heathers) who gives a powerhouse performance as Maggie, the bathroom attendant, the ensemble cast gives believable and incredibly moving performances as their respective characters who start as strangers and end up as unlikely friends. The characters’ stories are all very different; Evita Khrime gives an outstanding performance as Serena, a tough but troubled teen, Regina Co is perfectly cast as Krystal, a computer programmer struggling with her identity and sexuality whilst not wanting to disappoint her overbearing mother (Cezarah Bonner) and Cynthia (Josie Benson) a rich and privileged mother trying to come to terms with the fact that her young daughter (played beautifully by Grace Venus) has autism. They are supported by Isabella Gervais as the sassy, self-assured Sophie and Carrie Sutton as Maggie’s sister and Rebecca-Jo Roberts as Robin, Maggie’s teenage daughter. Each character has their chance to shine whilst telling their story, through their stunning vocals and the musical’s powerful songs (composed by Andy March, with lyrics and additional music by Kyle Puccia and co-lyrics by Leisl Wilke).
The show opens and closes with the title song ‘Stalled’ which sets the tone for the performance whilst giving an introduction and conclusion to the characters’ stories. The songs fit well with the plot and the emotion was definitely there even if some of the melodies were somewhat forgettable. Some stand-out moments for me was the relatable anthem ‘F*ck Off’ which Maggie belts out as she loses patience with the bathroom’s occupants, and the stunning duet ‘Fly’ performed by Maggie and Robin which brought many audience members to tears (myself included). Josie Benson’s heartfelt performance of ‘You’re Not Broken, You’re Mine’ showcased her incredible vocals in a song that I am sure will resonate with mothers of neurodivergent children. Regina Co and Evita Khrime perfectly capture the emotions of their respective teenage problems through their performances, however I felt that the songs themselves were not quite strong enough to do them justice.
The story, written by Leisl Wilke, cleverly weaves the character’s stories together and moves at just the right pace to keep the audience engaged. My only criticism would be that it was somewhat predictable at times; however, if you can quickly recognise the plot’s main twist, as I did, it would not ruin the story, in fact I felt it helped me to better understand and connect with the characters. The show deals with contemporary themes such as teenage pregnancy, coming out, grief and loss, suicide and coping with the weight of parental expectations. This all felt a little overwhelming at times, and I felt that there could have been more uplifting moments to balance the often triggering subject matter. That being said, the witty script did offer some funny moments delivered with perfect comic timing by the cast.
The strengths of this show are in the cast’s acting and vocal abilities, the slick direction by Vikki Stone, the sound and lighting design and the static but immersive set. The story I felt could be improved, perhaps simplified, to avoid too many emotions overwhelming the audience. I am sure that most women would be able to relate to at least one of the characters’ journeys, and the ending is hopeful even if incredibly sad. As a Mother, I found myself wanting to spend more time listening to my daughters, to understand their own goals and feelings, after watching this musical.
‘Stalled’ reminds us that every person we meet has their own story to tell, and that the strength of human connection can be found in the most unlikely of places. Never forget that you can make a huge difference to someone’s day by treating everyone with a little more patience and understanding (and perhaps a little lavender hand lotion).
At King’s Head Theatre until 23 March 2025
★★★★
