Fly More than you Fall | Short Review
Aliya Al-Hassan
Thursday, October 24, 2024
A heartbreaking, yet muddled, new musical about love, loss and hope
When Tony-nominated Keala Settle takes star billing, it is worth taking notice. Fly More than You Fall is Eric Holmes and Nat Zegree's new musical starring Settle, exploring how aspiring writer Malia’s world is rocked when her mother receives a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Featuring some real ear worms, particularly the eponymous title track 'Fly More Than You Fall', the ensemble is brimming with wit and energy. Settle herself is as powerful as ever, but sadly underused. The standout star, however, is Robyn Rose-Li who plays Malia with sensitivity and incredibly natural stage presence. Her vocals are beautifully pitched with great clarity and diction. Rose-Li surely has a very bright future ahead.
The production has moments of real poignancy, particularly in reflecting the solipsism and selfishness inherent in the teenage psyche. However, this is undermined by a jumbled storyline that attempts to combine teenager Malia’s own story with that of Willow – a fantasy character she is constructing in her writing. Fly More Than You Fall has much to admire but needs more clarity to really make it shine.
Fly More Than You Fall plays at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 23 November 2024 – for more information and tickets, visit southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Production credits
Fly More Than You Fall by Eric Holmes (book, lyrics), Nat Zegree (music, lyrics)
Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 23 October 2024
Starring Keala Settle, Cavin Cornwall, Robyn Rose-Li, Maddison Bulleyment, Max Gill, Edward Chitticks, Bessy Ewa, Harry Mallaghan, Sara Bartos, Kieran Usher, Zasha Rabie and JoJo Meredith
You can read our full-page review in the December issue of Musicals magazine, on sale 22 November – consider subscribing today!
