Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure? Measure a year?
Most of us can name this opening song to the Broadway musical Rent. However, less of us probably know the struggle of Jonathon Larson, playwright and composer of the brilliant smash hit. Netflix’s Tick Tick Boom (often stylized as tick, tick...BOOM!) debuted in November 2021 and explores the life, career, and hardships of the talented artist behind one of the most popular and beloved Broadway musicals.
From Workshops to Broadway
Many theater enthusiasts know and love Rent. Even years after its debut, and the musical continues to attract audiences. Rent is loosely based on the Italian opera tragedy La Boheme. Writer and producer Billy Aronson was inspired by the opera and had the idea to write a musical with a similar storyline. Since he didn’t write music, he sought a composer through his affiliation with Playwrights Horizons. The musical theatre director, Ira Weitzman, suggested Jonathan Larson. Aronson and Larson worked together but soon parted ways and Jonathan eventually finished the musical himself, drawing inspiration from his own life to complete the masterpiece.
In 1993, Rent started out as a staged reading. The following year, it underwent a two-week workshop. Three years later, in 1996, the New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) produced a fully staged production at their new East Village location. This was the first musical NYTW had ever done. On April 29, 1996, Rent debuted in Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre where it instantly gained critical acclaim and later won the title of Best Musical at the Tony Awards. Larson also won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and two Tonys for best score and best book. Unfortunately, he was never able to accept these awards or see the success of his show; he passed away unexpectedly before its Broadway debut at the young age of 35 from an undetected aneurysm. However, Rent continued its Broadway run for a total of 5,123 shows before closing on September 7th, 2008.
30 Going on Dead: A Relatable Story
While Jonathan Larson is most known for Rent, Netflix hopes to gain a fanbase around his autobiographical musical Tick, Tick, Boom. It’s the struggle of an aspiring composer in New York City as he faces the hardships of relationships and friendships, all while chasing his dream of becoming a successful artist and trying to accomplish everything before he turns 30.
Perhaps that’s the part many people will find relatable, the pressure of having everything in your life figured out by the time you’re “old.” It’s a message that will resonate with many millennials who feel like they are in the same boat. The movie’s opening song, 30/90, explores this theme and sets the tone for the rest of the film. In this catchy song, Jonathan sings:
They're singing, "Happy Birthday"
You just wanna lay down and cry
Not just another birthday, it's 30/90
Why can't you stay 29
Hell, you still feel like you're 22
Turn thirty 1990
Bang! You're dead,
What can you do?
In other words, turning 30 in 1990 is a death sentence, especially for an unknown and aspiring artist. Larson felt this way back then, and his sentiment was echoed over thirty years later by (self-professed musical theater nerd) Bo Burnham in his special Inside. 30 years later, Burnham was referencing Larson with lyrics like, "When he was 27, my granddad fought in Vietnam. When I was 27, I built a birdhouse with my mom. Oh, f***, how am I thirty?" It's clear that the musical genius was verbalizing a thought that has plagued creative artists ever since, though none have done it as well as Larson.
The Struggle Is Real
Jonathan faces several difficult decisions throughout the movie. Should he follow his dream of becoming a Broadway composer and playwright? Marry his girlfriend and start a family? Or choose a comfortable life in the corporate world with his best friend, Michael? We see his torment and struggle in the song, Johnny Can’t Decide, one of the many Tick Tick Boom songs that are both catchy and extremely intimate.
Johnny has no guide
Johnny wants to hide
Can he make a mark,
If he gives up his spark?
Johnny can't decide
He laments his struggle with pursuing one dream over another. Again, this is a challenge that will ring true to many young adults, and the film around the song depicts the struggle in thoughtful, insightful, but also joyous ways.
The Essence of Jonathan Larson
Andrew Garfield beautifully captures the essence of Jonathan Larson in one of the best performances of 2021; anyone who stereotyped the actor as a web-slinging superhero should watch this film to see true acting skills in motion. Throughout the entire Tick Tick Boom musical, we see the passion he has for his girlfriend Susan, the compassion he feels for his best friend and former roommate Michael, and his determination to become an acclaimed Broadway playwright and composer. Seeing Garfield’s performance is even more chilling knowing that, despite Larson’s success, his worst fear of dying young came true as he passed away just five years after turning 30.
Many actors often pour their hearts into their performances, spending countless hours with character research and studies. Andrew Garfield closely studied YouTube videos of Jonathan Larson. Larson performed his musical Tick Tick Boom in the early 1990s as a rock monologue, and you can find many of these performances online. If you watch videos of Larson and Garfield, you can clearly see the similarities between the two performances. In addition, Garfield invested in singing and piano lessons, and was actually able to play piano for the film. Given his stellar performance, it’s likely Garfield might even win the Oscar he has been deservedly nominated for.
A Memorable Musical
While Andrew Garfield shines throughout the entire movie, he and Lin-Manuel Miranda let other actors take command of the spotlight. Alexandra Shipp plays beautifully alongside Garfield as Susan, his girlfriend who loves him but is tired of taking second place behind his art. Another standout performance is Vanessa Hudgens, who plays Karessa Johnson, a key singer in Larson’s chorus line. She and Garfield shine together in the song Therapy with their crisp and precise movements, as well as their strong vocals. Then there’s Michael, played by Robin de Jesús, Larson's best friend who learns that he is HIV positive, much like Angel in Rent. While Robin de Jesús’ performance is not as strong as some others, we can still see the compassion and affection he feels for Larson as he tries and fails to incorporate him into the cushy corporate world.
Since its recent debut, the Tick Tick Boom reviews and fan adoration indicates that Miranda's film has become a new musical favorite. After watching the musical, one can easily see why, because it’s truly captivating from start to finish. The songs are catchy and fun to sing along with, while the drama keeps you on the edge of your seat; the metafictional approach and framework keeps the audience engaged, and the litany of Broadway cameos is a huge treat for fans of musicals, guaranteeing that this is a film that any musical theater lover will enjoy and cherish. The movie runs for 1 hour and 55 minutes but feels more like 10 minutes, keeping you entertained until the last note is played in Tick Tick Boom's ending.
The End or Never Ending?
Jonathan Larson never got to witness the success of Rent and now Tick Tick Boom, but those of us who are lucky enough to see it certainly can. It’s ironic that the very thing he feared, turning old and dying, came true the very day of the first public preview performance of Rent. Was it the end for Larson, or the beginning of his legacy? Now, the success of his work lives on almost 30 years later, with Rent remaining one of the most beloved musicals of all time, and Tick Tick Boom looking to follow in its footsteps as perhaps the best musical on Netflix, and most likely its best original one. It’s simply a shame that Larson never got to taste the fame and fortune that he coveted, but audiences can taste his passion for years to come.