Lukas is a musical with a difference; modern, minimalist, set in Berlin.
The story centers around one decision; should Lukas leave his Berlin home and follow his girlfriend Olivia to Australia? Writers Nicole Ratjen, Ben Southam and Tom Hanley wanted to “explore the many facets of making a decision, simple and complex, familiar and distant,” and in this, they succeed.
They give every character in the story a voice – a song – and as these voices build to a crescendo, you realize just how complex making this decision is. The songs themselves are funny and touching, with tangible references such as playing Fifa on playstation.
Sarah Milligan (as Olivia) hit every note with a voice as powerful as any you would find on Broadway, Ben Southam (Lukas) gave a nuanced performance, and Blake Worrell convincingly played Lukas’s depressive father.
The music, provided by Laura Peterson (keyboard), Kenny Stanger (guitar), Stuart Nelson (alto saxophone) and Jano González (bass), adds a layer of mood and feeling to each character, making the show an emotional experience.
But although the play manages to be emotionally complex, it falls down dramaturgically, managing to reach crisis, but never climax and resolution. Overall, however, it is a short, sweet experience, set in the intimate performance space of Berlin’s Factory, Germany’s largest start-up campus.
For more information, read Interview with Ben Southam: How to write a Musical in your Lunch Breaks.
Filed under: Berlin, music, theater
