Regional: Sing Street in Boston

Called “the Joyus New Musical that Lights You Up,” Huntington Theatre Company’s production of Sing Street is electric and lighting up Boston this fall.

I had learned of Sing Street through its highly-anticipated Broadway run in the spring of 2020, only for those hopes to be dashed before it even hit the stage. Then, delayed by the pandemic, it seemed to fade out of mouths and off of streets, and its promised house of the Lyceum became home to another production. The hope of seeing Sing Street mount to Broadway seemed to fade to silence.

In the summer of 2022, it was announced that Huntington Theatre Company in Boston would mount a production as the season opener of their 2022-23 season—and I could not have been more thrilled. In anticipation of the Broadway production, I had fallen in love with the 2016 film the stage adaptation is based on and couldn’t wait to see it on stage.

I do not say lightly that this production might be one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. It’s electric and engaging and equal parts emotional and whimsical.

To briefly back up to the plot, Conor Lawler is a teen living in Dublin, Ireland in 1982, at the crossroad of a national recession and struggles within his home. Conor is the youngest of three siblings, his eldest brother, Brendan, is a washed-up college dropout, who has sunken so deep in his depression he barely leaves the house. His sister, Anne, is disgruntled with her current studies in University to be an architect, like their father. Robert and Penny Lawlor have reached the breaking point in their marriage, further strained by financial troubles in the family.

When they can no longer afford to send Conor to prep school, he is transferred to a public school, where he struggles with the headmaster and the school bully. After a string of lies, Conor forms a band with the hope of impressing Raphina, a mysterious girl he sees in a telephone booth across the street from the school. The boys work together to pull together a band called Sing Street, and work together to write songs so Raphina will hang out with Conor. In a story with a backdrop of distress and depression, Conors friendship with Raphina becomes a guiding light, and a chance to break free of his struggles.

First, I want to mention how much I loved the overall aesthetic and set design of this production. It uses the minimalist feel John Carney’s musicals often do at the hands of Bob Crowley, who also did the set design for Once. The set design, paired with the video design, created this very eye-catching, electric 80s feel on stage.

I also want to draw attention to the sound design, which was incredible. Done by Peter Hylenski, who has numerous Broadway credits for sound design, created something very special for Sing Street. Music plays a big role in the show, from Conor’s Walkman to Barry’s boombox, to Raphina’s Walkman. The teens in the show are desperately seeking music as an escape from the pitfall of despair of adulthood. Many times throughout the show that used the sound design to play the “music” one of the characters was listening to over the stage so it drowns out all other sounds, and the character is on stage wearing headphones or carrying a blasting boom box. Then, when disrupted, they pull the headphones off, and the sound switches to playing loudly “from their headphones.” I thought this was a very clever use of sound, and it really sticks out throughout the show.

The use of video as a backdrop is also very eye-catching. Since Conor and his bandmates are trying to film music videos, they often have Darren film the band and then the “film” is projected up on the video display backdrop for the audience to see.

Overall I thought the design was very clever and it feels very fresh. I think between the heartfelt emotion behind the story and the smart set design, it feels like something fresh on stage that deserves to have a moment in the spotlight.

Adam Bregman captures the awkward and youthful Conor, who is passionate and determined to chase a dream. He has settled well into the role and captures the “garage-band” aesthetic of a bunch of school boys trying to put together a band. Bregman also plays so well with Donal Finn, who portrays his older brother Brendan. Finn expertly captures Brendan’s struggle and bitterness towards the outside world that has chewed him up and spit him back home.

Courtnee Carter steals the audiences’ hearts as the mysterious Raphina. Her stunning vocals and emotional scenes with Conor leave the audience in awe. I loved her portrayal of Raphina, who acts as a thing for the entire show. Though we mostly see Conor’s side of the narrative, it is a talented actress playing the lassiez-faire attitude Raphina has that really makes the show.

Alexa Xioufaridou Moster brings Anne to life with determination not to fall into her older brother’s shoes. Moster steals the spotlight in “Girls” where Anne snaps and finally diverts from the path her parents have laid for her.

Ben Wang (Eamon) and Diego Lucano (Darren) portray Conor’s trusty right-hand men with ease, alongside Gian Perez (Kevin)—who brings spirit to the band.

I am so glad I was able to catch Sing Street while it was in Boston. This production was electric and dug deeply into shelved emotions and I was absolutely blown away by the entire production. Sing Street is playing at the Huntington Theater Company’s Calderwood Pavilion until October 9.

Sing Street had it’s original Pre-Broadway run from December 2019 to January 2020 at New York Theatre Workshop and was slated for a Broadway run in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed its Broadway run, but the Original Broadway Cast Recording was released in April 2020 nevertheless. In summer 2022, it was announced Sing Street would do a second pre-Broadway run in collaboration with Huntington Theatre Company at the Calderwood Pavilion in Boston, with intention to move on to a Broadway run. To keep up to date with the production, visit singstreet.com.