This musical begins as a sunny coming-of-age story, with a teenager and aspiring novelist excitedly driving off to “writing camp”. That journey quickly veers into dark matter, from cancer diagnosis in the family to the aftermath of parental death.
Its central character, the sweet 15-year-old Malia (Robyn Rose-Li), swings between a “can-do” attitude to overcoming grief and submitting to its anguish. So does the show itself: there is a pastel wash to the set and costumes, and heavy doses of all-American schmaltz in Eric Holmes’s book and lyrics, which would grate were it not for the characters’ lovability – and the show’s sensational songs.
The titular number is instantly catchy and Nat Zegree’s music brings emotional drama, warmth and one soaring song after another, some of which, such as Hungry for More, have a cool rap element.
Under the direction of Christian Durham, performances are astounding, with voices strong enough to carry a stadium in solo, it seems, from Rose-Li’s rousing strains to the powerhouse vocals of Keala Settle, who plays her ailing mother, and Cavin Cornwall, who is instantly likable as her father.
It seems to take a lead from a musical like Next to Normal in its family setup, but with more sentiment. Just occasionally, the production’s tone acquires the delicious bite of another, more razor-edged high school musical that I would run to watch. The Worst is an absolute show-stopper, shining with wicked irreverence, with lyrics that dramatise the histrionic solipsism of teenagers around Malia as she grieves. “I know my parents hate me, Oh my God why did they create me?” moans one teenager. “I know her mum just died but there’s no need to yell,” says another, about Malia.
There are peculiarities, such as the set, which is a confusion of stairs and an ascending mound of pastel paper that represents a mountain in Malia’s fictional story. Overall it makes for a rather un-British experience, but it creeps into its own brilliance, in spite of the heavy doses of sentimentality. You can’t but be affected by the story, and blown away by the songs.
• At Southwark Playhouse Elephant, London, until 23 November
