AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review
Staged in the newly opened venue of the King's Head Theatre, Stalled: A New Musical presents a bold concept: a luxury corporate restroom in Seattle as the central stage for stories of grief and motherhood. The set, designed by Emily Bestow, has four striking orange cubicles, a sleek marble floor and neon yellow lighting, the set was visually strong. With a trio of musicians playing on top of a dark box in the corner, the production promised a unique theatrical experience.
Stalled: A New Musical follows Maggie, played by the standout Lauren Ward, who delivers a gripping performance as a mother haunted by the presence of Robin (played by Rebecca-Jo Roberts), a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to herself. As the show unfolds, it becomes clear that Robin is Maggie’s daughter’s ghost, unseen by anyone else.
The show orbits around themes of motherhood and loss, with every other character—either a daughter or a mother—woven into this narrative. However, while the premise was intriguing, the execution left something to be desired.
The book by Liesl Wilke (and also Co-lyricist) struggled under the weight of too many competing themes. Feminism, neurodivergence, queerness, mental health, pregnancy and religion—all important discussions, yet unfortunately none are fully explored in a way that felt organic to the story. Instead, it seemed as though Wilke was attempting to try and tick every box during the duration of the 90 minutes, leading to what seemed an overcrowded narrative that lacked depth in its individual strands.
The supporting cast, though are vocally talented, but at times felt disconnected from their characters. With the movement by Dannielle Rhimes Lecointe, was ambitious, but sadly lacking in energy. I feel that either if the movement had a more stylised comedic approach or removed some of the unnecessary movement might have resulted more effective.
Musically (music by Andy March plus additional music by Kyle Puccia with also lyrics by Andy March, Liesl Wilke and Kyle Puccia) delivered a series of well-sung but somewhat forgettable numbers. Many songs blended into one another without any truly standout moments—except for ‘Just Stop,’ a cathartic release as Maggie confronts her sister, which carried the raw emotion that much of the show was missing.
The production had promise, and its lead carried it admirably, but ultimately, Stalled: A New Musical suffered from an overcrowded script and an uneven execution. If the show had more focused narrative and tighter direction, Stalled: A New Musical could be a truly powerful piece.
★★.5
Stalled: A New Musical Plays at the King's Head Theatre until 23rd of March.
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