(seen at the afternoon performance on 30th July 2026)
Sometimes the monkey gets a run of shows sharing similar themes. This week, “Cats” on Monday, “Ride The Cyclone” today. Both deal with choosing who gets to be reincarnated.
This show is a lot shorter, and considerably less cute – but judging by the reaction from a predominantly young audience, it really ticks every box. The cheers and applause for every “equality” statement made were almost show-stopping.
The show itself has gone through many incarnations since its Canadian premiere in 2006. Jacob Richmond and Booke Maxwell wanted to write something about teenage death, and came up with the idea of a school choir in the city of Radiation.
Having come second (as the only entrants) in a singing competition, they ride “The Cyclone” rollercoaster and are killed when it goes wrong.
The Amazing Karnak (Divina De Campo) is a mechanical barker who seems to rule an underworld until a rat finishes chewing through the power supply.
Our luckless teens can choose just one of their number to return to life. The 90 minutes is spend more or less doing that.
You will figure out instantly who is going to be chosen, and why. It is that kind of show.
What you will instantly appreciate is Kevin McCollum, Morris Berchard and Jack Maple’s production.
Ryan Dawson Laight’s set and costumes, Nina Dunn’s video design, Tim Deiling’s lighting and Lizzie Gee’s direction and choreography are all immaculate.
Considerable thought and investment made in every aspect of how the show looks and moves.
Sadly, problems lie in book, music and lyric. Simply the show is indecipherable for the older generation who work in longer than bite-sized segments of concentration.
Like the teenage mind, it ricochets from testing one thought process to another- never stopping to consider deeper connections.
We get a rough idea of each character, but most turn out inexplicable.
Mischa (Bartek Kraszewski) is some sort of Eastern European with an alcohol problem and troubled family. Kraszewski manages to re-absorb instantly the charisma he exudes, which is just strange.
Constance (Robyn Gilbertson) is a sketch of an unpopular young woman who isn’t going to die a virgin. Ocean (Kayna Montecillo) is Rachel from “Glee” – another stereotype in a show trying to avoid them.
Jack Maverick is Ricky, getting to plagiarise a song from “The Rocky Horror Show” with enjoyable energy.
This gives him an advantage over Josh Butler as Noel, a supporting character.
Finally, Grace Galloway as Jane Doe gets a good slice of drama, a chance to sing and…
Surprisingly humourless for a bunch of young people, and oddly tuneless for those brought up on the golden ages of musical theatre, this is less a cyclone than a mild drizzle if you are over 25 or so.
Under that age, well, it just proves that theme parks are for you. Ride this one if like, but the monkey is sticking to Disneyland.
2 stars.
Photo credit: Charlie Flint Photography.