SNAP! | King's Head Theatre

SNAP! is a new original musical by David O'Brien, that glitters with promise, yet never quite develops to its full potential. Directed by Jack Storm, the musical struggles to gain momentum due to, in part, the short runtime, and in part, due to a confusing book. The musical struggles to define itself, too often trying to tackle multiple large themes, without the time or space to explore them further. 

The musical revolves around two couples; the first, a renowned yet narcissistic photographer Max (Matteo Giambiasi) and the witty Sheila (Justine Marie Mead), Max's assistant. The second, the stressed and depressed young Tom (Will Usherwood-Bliss) and the beautiful Angela (Hayley Maybury). However, Max and Angela share a past together, one that threatens everything in their present. The musical becomes a 'game of cat and mouse' between the four characters, as misunderstandings, lust, power and control and love come into play, shifting their worlds. 

Had the musical chosen to develop these characters and their relationships further, leaning into the psychological drama that naturally unfolds, the audience would be invested in these stories. However, as it stands, with limited emotional engagement with the characters, they often feel uninspired and as just a means to achieve certain plot twists. For instance, Tom's depressive state is never explained nor is there any chemistry or reason for his relationship with Angela, with the couple feeling rather mismatched. Max, who becomes the puppetmaster, gets lost in the script having perhaps the least amount of stage time, with a rather generic confession. The musical attempts to muster high stakes and serious consequences for the characters, yet never quite earns this.

The musical, however, is full of promise with the photography scenes, which stands out. Max, having received a last minute important contract to make a brand of tea more marketable, employs the shy yet good looking Tom as his model. The photoshoot is hilarious, with Tom struggling to pose naturally, Max trying to create a "sexy" shoot, and Sheila questioning the sanity of everyone involved. Alistair Lindsay's lighting design cleverly incorporates the photography and camera clicks, with flashes occurring around the stage. This scene is but a snapshot of the brilliance that SNAP! had the potential to have been, with the clever commentary on the modelling industry and marketing mindsets. 

The cast are excellent with strong vocals and a knack for comedy. Although the script doesn't allow for character development, Mead and Usherwood-Bliss manage to convince audiences to root for their characters. 

Matteo Giambiasi as Max has magnetic vocals that frame the musical, immersing audiences in a gorgeous underlying plot. Usherwood-Bliss is hilarious, both as his introverted gamer self and in finding his confidence as a model, creating a lovely contrast. Usherwood-Bliss' innocence and gentle presence works wonders on delivering a darker subtext of the musical. Maybury delivers stunning vocals that are some of the musicals strongest numbers. Marbury's vocal range is extraordinary, even managing to infuse humour in a lengthy lyric with fantastic control. 

Mead steals the show, injecting Sheila with warmth and humanity, with her sassy comments and ability to regulate and comprehend conflicts. In an overshadowed subplot, her acceptance of constant disrespect to finally walking away, makes her emotional journey quite touching. Mead shines in the role, playing into the comedic elements and deservedly received rousing applause at the curtain call.

The songs provide a wonderful opportunity for the talented cast to showcase their vocal talents, and has a few impressive musical numbers (most notably the two solos by Maybury and Mead), yet ultimately they don't stand out. Often repeating what's already been established or condensing massive plot points, the songs create a confusing pacing for the show. 

SNAP! with a little rework and a longer runtime has the potential to be a bold new original musical, taking on an exciting topic. However as it currently stands, this new musical struggles to engage audiences. 

SNAP! runs at King's Head Theatre until 25th May 2025.

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★★☆☆☆ (2*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Stuart Yeatman