Described as “a new electropop audiodrama”, Can’t Complain is the brainchild of musician Sam Easton. The genesis of this show is not necessarily standard for new musicals.
An original cast recording has been made and will be released this week. Two listening events of the album have now been held, in London and Manchester. An excerpt has been performed live. However, there have been no full live productions, as yet.
Despite essentially being a playback session of a pre-recorded concept album, the Manchester premiere was still slightly theatrical.
A dinner table set for four is centre of the 53Two stage. Three plates lie empty. One spaghetti bolognaise lies ominously untouched on the fourth plate.
Behind the table, a large screen displays the visuals to accompany each track. These heavily feature evocative photography by Grace Antoinette Easton. Seemingly mundane scenes made beautiful.
The tracks themselves tell the story of two teenagers, Joanna and Tom, whose burgeoning, but awkward, romance is interrupted when Joanna’s father takes his life.
Over the course of a year, the pair try to support each other, and Joanna’s Mum, at the same time as carrying on with their lives as best they can.
Much like the photography, this is a story that sees the beauty in the rural and suburban mundanity of life. Albeit life rocked by tragedy.
The tragedy itself is handled sensitively and authentically. Also utterly believable are the strands of dialogue scattered between the music. Lines of humour and pathos which perfectly capture the stilted loneliness of grief and growing up.
There are hints of Spring Awakening in the music, short bursts of dialogue but so much is unsaid while the songs themselves are the windows into the souls of the characters.
The sound is polished, with Imogen Heap vibes in the poppy electronic and vocal combination.
Some songs are really standout. The soaring synths in Changing of the Guard perfectly capture the elation of early love. Suffer in Silence sticks with you long after the show finishes and Best Laid Plans, a stunning song for Joanna’s Mum Helen,proves that poignant can have a beat.
However, the musical style ends up feeling quite ‘samey’ by the second half which drags a fair amount. A one act song cycle is perhaps the best vehicle for the accomplished material.
At this particular event, this is probably not helped by the fairly limited visual cues. On one hand, this allows the audience to really focus on the music. On the other, there is a risk that as the musical motives repeat the mind wanders.
Some of the imagery, however, is strangely hypnotic. A rural street scene running backwards, a looping train on a bridge, blurred flashing lights, a slow zoom in and out on a kitchen vignette.
Overall, this is an intriguing and proficient musical study of grief and mental health. The subject matter, while covering well-trodden ground, is important. Anything that finds the special in the ordinary is to be celebrated.
It remains to be seen if the show can be transformed from a slightly too long, slightly one note concept album, to be listened to alone, into something more theatrical.
Can’t Complain is released as an album on 10th September, with more information available here: www.instagram.com/cantcomplainmusical
Reviewer: Peter Ruddick
Reviewed: 6th September 2025
North West End UK Rating: