The Jonathan Larson Project
The story of composer, lyricist and playwright Jonathan Larson is a mix of creativity and tragedy. The composer took a lot of his inspiration from the genius of Stephen Sondheim and that’s clear from the complexity of his musicality and lyrics. On the day his ground-breaking musical hit RENT was due to show its first preview on Broadway, he suffered an aortic dissection and died – aged just 35.
The Jonathan Larson Project pays tribute to his creativity, showcasing many of his lesser-known songs. By cleverly allowing the music to speak for itself (there is no juke-box-style-musical plot to weave the songs together) the tragedy comes through too – along with every other conceivable emotion.
Rob Kelly (casting director) has assembled a brilliant cast of five, all bringing something different to the party. Each is showcased in solo numbers while also brilliantly supporting bringing stirring harmony to the ensemble. Larson’s harmonies alone can stir the emotions, and the cast more than does justice to them, connecting with the complex lyrics and connecting with us.
The mix of style is remarkable: from the bluesy tones of ‘Break out the Booze’ set during Prohibition, to the chaos of ‘Hosing the Furniture’ – essentially a love song to Sondheim (think ‘Not Getting Married’ from Company), to the heartbreakingly beautiful ‘Love Heals’ written for friend Alison Gertz who died young from AIDS in the 1990s, in support of the foundation set up in her name. The subtle choreography supports the communication of the songs while the props and set are used to good effect. The piano is the recurring theme – the place where Larson clearly expressed himself, and enabling us to hear the song dedicated to the instrument, never heard before the Project.
The one-act performance opens with film footage of Larson and his music, projected on a cloth at the back of the rustic set, giving the feel of a New York loft apartment. It includes his (arguably) most iconic song, Seasons of Love from RENT. Projection continues throughout the piece, telling us what song is next, when it was written and for what purpose. Sadly, I missed most of this in the performance as I was sat to the side and didn’t have a clear view. The other slight downside to the production was the sound in the first 10 minutes. Something wasn’t working and I felt like I was listening in a very echoey bathroom! Fortunately neither of these points detracted from the 5* performance from the cast.
Larson’s lyrics have a remarkable timelessness about them. ‘The Truth is a Lie’, written in 1990, could easily have been written about the whole Fake News/social media culture we find ourselves in today. I’m left wondering why it is has taken so long for this back catalogue of political, lyrical, social commentary to be shared with us. This project is definitely worth seeing and I’d give it an A+!
This show was reviewed on the 13th July 2026 at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London where it runs until the 22nd August 2026. Tickets available here: The Jonathan Larson Project - Southwark Playhouse Borough
Review written by Ian Worsfold
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Photo credit : Danny Kaan
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