Story of My Life

LAMBCO Productions - Stage Door Theatre - Prince of Wales Pub - 13/09/2024

September 14/09/2024

The most touching storyline, with a journey to find the right words through stunning songs and a casting match made in heaven, quite literally.

Friendship is one of life's treasures and 'Story of My life' highlights how impactful a friendship can be whilst you're growing up during your most influential years. The show was first produced in 2009 for Broadway, music and lyrics crafted by Neil Bartram and book written by Brian Hill. Now it has made it's way to London! Its is a two man show that follows the colourful friendship of Alvin played by Tim Edwards and Thomas played by Markus Sodergren. The audience follow Thomas on a journey, in his mind, to find the perfect words to give an obituary for the recently passed Alvin. LAMBCO productions have directed this production of 'The Story of My life' with clear attention to detail and a perfect casting. It provokes thoughts and feelings of appreciation for the friendships you as an audience member have treasured in your own life. This show is a rare treasure.

LAMBCO's choice to direct this piece within an intimate theatre space gave the show gravity, because it gave the audience a looking glass into the characters lives and the proximity gave every person in the audience a chance to fully understand and connect with the characters. There are scenes where the characters travel through the audience, this places the audience inside the flashback and grows a stronger understanding of Thomas' character arc throughout the show. His journey to finding acceptance of his friends passing and peace with his thoughts of whether he did enough is crystal clear.

Thomas is played by Markus Sodergren, who is no stranger to LAMBCO production's pieces, he played the Man in their two character production of Sondheim's 'Marry Me a Little' earlier this year. He plays this character extremely well: showing a person with ambition, lives life thinking deeply about each of his decisions and these characteristics eventually create a selfish character who has forgotten what got him to being a successful writer in the present day. What and who inspired these colourful stories? Alvin is played by the pocket rocket Tim Edwards, who has played as a 'Swing' in 'The Book of Morman', 'Boq' in the 'Wicked' UK and Ireland tour and a vast variety of other brilliant shows. His acting style is as colourful and animated as the character Alvin in this production. He plays his character with an abundance of energy and it is clear that Alvin takes Thomas away from his habit of overthinking everything he does. Alvin was the colour in Thomas' life and gave him memories that infuenced his life more than he realised.

Alvin bringing colour to Thomas' life is emphasised by the set. The majority of the stage is white and this symbolised the journey in Thomas' mind. As he is with the ghost/vision of the recently passed Alvin. However, the set comes to life during the memories and the items that come to life symbolise the colourful memories that the two have shared. Such as, the white pumpkin, when they are in the flash back of halloween's they have spent together the pumpkin magically changes from white to orange and green. It animates! This is cleverly done by Richard Lambert the lighting designer. There is also a blue butterfly on the shelf to symbolise the memory of the butterfly the two encounter, the book thomas writes and a nodd to the book 'The Butterfly' which is the book made from the beautiful song that features in the show 'The Butterfly' written by Neil Bartram.

The music is played live at the show and the creatives are placed in the corner of the set. The musical director is Aaron Clingham who has previously recieced 11 Off-West End award nominations for his work. The live music element of the show brings the space to life and creates more colour in the space. The beautiful songs played fill the room. The voices of the two actors are also so crisp and beautiful. They harmonise so perfectly together! You look forward to the moments that they both sing together and this emphasises how important the friendship is to each of the characters.

Overall, this piece is unmissable! It's an experience that every theatre lover should see. The themes that explored are so important: Grief, friendship, death and growing up. It would also help those who have lost loved ones in the past remember to focus on the memories shared and how they have shaped their lives in the present. It is a magical and beautiful production filled with talent and theatre magic. The work that LAMBCO have clearly put in to every tiny detail for it to fit in this space so well is ground breaking. The songs are very catchy so you will find yourself humming them after the show and the musicians/actors that perform them bring gravity and emphasis to the beautiful words and notes.

Just a side note of my personal experience of the show, because it is something that moved me and I want to share how it helped me. I lost a friend of mine a couple years ago and the thoughts that are explored in the show related to those of my own. You find yourself wondering if you could have done more, you wish that you had a chance to express the gratitude you have for your friendship and how much it made you the person you are today. I am so grateful for this show, because it made me think about a more positive way of looking at the passing. The memories you have are all you have, they mean as much to you as they did to the other person and it's better to look at them with gratitude that you had them. You can't go back in time, but you can help let their memory live on, show your gratitude of their presence in your life and share how much they meant to you as much as you can. My friend was a strong, intelligent and caring woman. I called her my big sister when we were close and like this show it was during my most influential years. She helped shape me into the woman I am today and I am so glad I got to see her a few months before her shocking passing. I just want to thank LAMBCO for creating this show, because it truly has helped me re-shape the thoughts I have about this passing. I cried alot during the show, because I felt like I was going on the journey with Thomas.