Andrew Garfield Blasts into the Theatre Scene in tick, tick….BOOM!

Tick, Tick….BOOM! has taken the world by storm on social media and is rapidly climbing on Netflix’s Top 10 Streamed which is amazing for Musical Theatre fans everywhere. To be able to dive into the emotion and heart of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s tick, tick….BOOM!, we must travel back to 1991.

Tony Award-winning playwright Jonathan Larson completed his autobiographical “Rock Monologue” entitled 30/90 that eventually evolved into the musical we know today as tick, tick…BOOM!. Many similarities from tick, tick…BOOM! translated into the creative process behind Larson’s Award-winning work of RENT. Unfortunately, Larson never saw the success of his projects due to his passing in January of 1996. The day RENT debuted off-broadway. After the success of RENT, Playwright David Auburn reworked the project tick, tick…BOOM! into a three-actor piece and premiered in 2001.

Fast-Forward to 2018. Following his smash-hit Hamilton and his first major on-screen role in Mary Poppins Returns. Lin-Manuel Miranda announced he would make his directorial debut with the film adaptation of tick, tick…BOOM! Netflix picked up the film and Andrew Garfield was announced as playing the role of Jonathan Larson. Production was impacted on the film due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Film ended production in November 2020 and was released in theaters (limited) on November 12th, 2021, and on Netflix a week later.

As we all know, Anything that Lin-Manuel Miranda touches turns into gold. Personally, this might be his best work yet. The emotional range of Andrew Garfield over the years (The Social Network, The Amazing Spider-Man) made this casting the easiest choice. He embodies the spirit and love of Jonathan Larson that most only saw in photographs and some film reels. In the time prior to filming, he learned singing and piano to make sure he did justice to the role of Jonathan Larson. Other Noteworthy performances are Robin De Jesus as Michael and Alexandra Shipp as Susan. In short, do not sleep on this film. When award season comes around, many of these names will without a doubt be on the nominee list. 9.5/10

 

Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield) is starting his performance of his rock monologue at the New York Theatre Workshop. Performing with his friends Roger (Joshua Henry) and Karessa (Vanessa Hudgens). Jonathan has been juggling work at the Moondance Diner and preparing his musical, Superbia, for the Playwrights Horizons workshop. After a performance by his girlfriend, Susan (Alexandra Shipp), he throws a party where we are introduced to the rest of this fantastic supporting cast including Michael (Robin de Jesus)

We then find Jonathan scrambling to get in touch with an agent to invite many famous playwrights to his showcase, and eventually just directly calls them all. In the middle of this life crisis, His friend Carolyn informs Jonathan that another friend, Freddy is in the hospital battling HIV. This continues to stress Jonathan since some of his friends had already died due to AIDS/HIV. He then imagines the diner filled with Broadway stars. “Sunday” features an over-abundance of cameos of broadway actors from Andre De Shields, Chita Rivera, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Phillipa Soo to name a few. It also features Lin-Manuel as a line cook and Adam Pascal, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Wilson Jermaine Heredia as homeless bums. Which is a callback to RENT also produced by Larson as the three-starred in the original cast. In my opinion, Probably the best scene in the film.

The workshop happens where many industry professionals, including Stephen Sondheim, who originally was a mentor for Larson. Jonathan debuts a new song “Come to your senses” sung by Karessa but imagines Susan singing it. The workshop ends with high praise but no offers. Jonathan runs into Michael, who now is succeeding at the Ad firm, begging for a job. Michael encourages him to stay with the theatre and reveals he too is HIV-Positive. Finally understanding that his obsessions cost him his relationships, he realizes he must continue with music, and he and Michael reconcile.

On Jonathan’s 30th Birthday, Steven Sondheim calls, congratulating him and offering to talk more about Superbia. The birthday party is held at the diner, attended by friends. Susan shows up, gifts him blank sheet music to help further his career, promising to see the next one. Susan narrates that the next one was Tick, Tick… BOOM!. She reveals that Larson passes from an aortic aneurysm the night before RENT’s premiere. The film ends with flashbacks of real footage as well as the outstanding performance of Louder Than Words.