Step Behind The Stage
The Mad Ones
The Other Palace, London - 09/05/25
Review by Alex King
Photo Credit: Perro Loco Productions
Sitting alone in a car, Samantha Brown is paralysed by a decision that feels impossible. Her future stretches out in front of her, yet she cannot loosen her grip on the past. That is where Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk’s The Mad Ones begins. After first debuting in 2009 under the title The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, the musical has taken its own winding journey through an Off-Broadway run, a cast recording and a Birmingham revival. Now it arrives at The Other Palace, inviting London audiences into Sam’s world.
Kerrigan and Lowdermilk have built a reputation for crafting contemporary musical theatre that resonates far beyond traditional spaces, and that versatility is on full display here. The score moves seamlessly between sweeping, emotive numbers such as ‘Freedom’, tender moments like ‘Say the Word’, and more offbeat offerings including ‘The Proposal’. Each song feels purposeful, deepening character and driving the story forward while giving the cast ample opportunity to shine.
The book between those numbers feels strikingly authentic. The dialogue carries a natural rhythm, rich with detail and emotional truth. Humour is woven throughout, but there is always an undercurrent of something heavier. From early on we learn that Kelly, the person Sam feels most connected to, has died. It is not treated as a twist but as a fact. What follows is Sam’s refusal to truly confront that loss, a thread that builds steadily towards a climax that feels earned rather than forced.
At the centre of it all are Dora Gee as Sam and Courtney Stapleton as Kelly, whose chemistry anchors the entire production. Their vocal styles reflect their characters beautifully while blending with ease. Whether navigating sharp disagreements or softer shared dreams, they create a relationship that feels lived in and deeply real. The emotional weight of the story rests on their connection, and they handle it with assurance.
Photo Credit: Perro Loco Productions
Sam’s world is also shaped by those who remain. Gabriel Hinchliffe’s Adam initially appears as the adorably awkward boyfriend, almost painfully beige in contrast to Kelly’s vibrancy, yet Hinchliffe layers the role with genuine warmth and sincerity. His quieter moments reveal a kindness that prevents the character from becoming a stereotype. Thea-Jo Wolfe’s Beverly balances humour with poignancy. As Sam’s statistics-obsessed and overbearing mother she provides some of the show’s lighter beats, yet Wolfe ensures that Beverly’s concern feels authentic, giving the character a moving emotional depth.
The intimate setting of The Other Palace studio proves ideal for this production. With a cast of four and a single car at its centre, the show thrives on closeness. Reuben Speed’s set design features fractured shards suspended behind Kelly’s battered vehicle, creating a visual landscape that mirrors Sam’s fractured state of mind. The car itself becomes as significant as any character on stage. Despite the compact space, the design never feels restrictive.
Lighting designer Joanne Marshall makes impressive use of that environment. Reflective surfaces catch and scatter light in ways that heighten emotional moments, while a solitary white spotlight can isolate a character with striking simplicity. Combined with Lauren Stroud’s smart, considered choreography and Emily Susanne Lloyd’s assured direction, the production feels carefully paced. Emotional beats are given room to breathe without ever losing momentum.
What stands out most is how expansive the show feels despite its scale. There is nothing small about its ambition or its emotional reach. It would be easy to dismiss a musical with a strong online following as fleeting, but The Mad Ones proves itself far more substantial. It offers an honest exploration of grief, memory and the difficulty of letting go, wrapped in a score that lingers long after the final note.
This may be a limited run, but it does not feel like the end of the road for this musical. If you have the chance to catch it at The Other Palace, take it. There is a great deal of heart waiting in that parked car.
Performers on the Night:
Dora Gee – Samantha Brown
Courtney Stapleton – Kelly
Thea-Jo Wolfe – Beverly
Gabriel Hinchliffe – Adam