Curve, Leicester
2nd July, 2025
“These colors are new”
How much of someone’s inner world do we overlook? How much of
our own truths do we prefer to bury into our subconscious – or at least try? These are
some of the questions at the heart of Indigo, Scott Evan Davis’ and Kait
Kerrigan’s musical conceived by Jay Kuo, Lorenzo Thione and Davis. Whilst that
stalwart of British musicals, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat,
plays next door in the main house, I’m pleased to say that in Curve’s studio is
a formally innovative, refreshingly colourful and superbly performed new American
musical receiving its UK premiere. Three women, all different generations of a fractured
family, are suddenly brought together by their various circumstances. Beverly (Rebecca Trehearn) and her
husband brace for chaos when her mother is diagnosed with dementia and moves in
with them. What they aren’t prepared for is Beverly’s 16-year-old daughter from a previous relationship – and who
is on the autism spectrum and non-speaking – coming
back into her life. The result is an ambitious work which shines a light on
characters’ inner lives and the different ways families can (fail to) communicate.
What’s thrillingly unique about musicals is they use song to
give voice to characters and reveal truths and emotions that perhaps wouldn’t
be divulged in dialogue. What’s striking about Indigo is that it gives a
voice to a non-speaking autistic teenager whose dad suddenly dies. So while
others can’t initially understand Emma, we experience parts of the show, including
the brilliant opening song ‘Color of Home’ through her mind. In ‘Somewhere
in the Gray’, we hear the anxiety and confusion over her newfound position of
being in the care of a mum who’s denied her existence for years: ‘I’m forgotten now and pushed aside/ Drifting
at sea/ Who will see me?’. Faced with the possibility of being thrown into a
broken care system, she reaches out to her maternal grandmother Elaine (Lisa
Maxwell) who’s been seeing her behind Beverly’s back for some time. Whilst Elaine
is struggling herself to make sense of the world due to her dementia diagnosis that
she’s unable to accept, the two share a different perspective on the
world which gives them both confidence to move forward and the ability to communicate
and connect in their own way. She also finds a kindred spirit in Tyler (Hugo
Rolland) who introduces Emma to comic books, inviting the idea that her autism
is her superpower. Underscored by colour, a recurring motif in Indigo,
comic books’ accessible, vivid and fast-paced style reflect the vividness of
the blending of senses common with synaesthesia, a neurological condition where
Emma experiences colours as emotions, people and places.
Catie Davis’ production cohesively brings together the
various creative elements so that the show’s design cleverly complements and
enhances Davis’ score and thematic elements of Kerrigan’s book. Andrzej
Goulding’s set and video design features a series of canvases which animate with Emma’s paintings, further sumptuously lit by Jake DeGroot. Together
it’s a mix of texture, colour and stagecraft that’s visually appealing and also
appropriate to the story. For instance, when Elaine and Emma take the keys of
Beverly’s Car during ‘Just Drive’, the living room literally splits in two, giving
space for the plot and characters to develop.
Scott Evan Davis is an original song writing talent to watch. His music and lyrics at times reminded me of Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Kimberly Akimbo), using rising melodies to infuse music with human emotion to express what is hidden beneath the surface. There’s great versatility in his score too, from the poignant, Jodi Mitchell-esque ‘Out of the Blue’ to more humorous numbers like Rick’s ‘It’s Been a Day’, in which he recalls spending the day ‘Ubering with Dwayne’ who then offered him cocaine whilst looking for the missing Elaine.
Aided by a top-drawer cast, Indigo doesn’t shy away
from or dumb down complex issues. Whilst I found the ending a little pat, Kerrigan's book strays from being soapy. Trehearn (who was sensational as the titular
plucky go-getter in Sweet Charity at Nottingham Playhouse in 2018) rises
to the challenge of bringing together the different emotional and plot strands.
Maxwell’s sensitive and beautifully-sung performance as Elaine ensures that Elaine
is a character with dementia and not defined by it. But the real stand out, making
her professional debut, is Katie Cailean as Emma - the programme notes that
authentic representation was paramount in the casting process led by Olivia Laydon
for Jill Green Casting. Cailean captures Emma’s tics, rubbing the sofa when agitated,
her creativity and her voice with utter clarity.
Representation matters in the arts, as they have a vital role
to play in diminishing the severity of conditions like dementia, and opening
audiences’ eyes to new perspectives. Curve have long been a champion of that,
from their dementia-friendly performances to their co-production of Maggie May. Indigo furthers that work. I hope this musical has a further life as
it’s a gem of a show.
Indigo plays at Curve, Leicester until 19th July. For further information
please visit https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/indigo/
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The cast of Indigo. Credit: Manuel Harlan. |
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