London production 2025: quotes and reviews
Max Alexander-Taylor as Vinnie and Nicholas Carter as Paul (Photo: Erik Delin)
Mickey Jo Theatre
We love new musical theatre with an exciting score... moving and striking...
George Stiles
Brilliant show. I loved everything about it, from the stunningly engaging performances, to the simple but hugely atmospheric production, all stemming from Neil’s superb writing and brilliantly varied songs...
Brianna O'Reilly
The music in this show is delicious...
Rob Madge
Bloody cracking stuff!
Nick Carter as Paul and Max Alexander-Taylor as Vinnie (Photos: Erik Delin)
The Spy in the Stalls
A fascinating, emotionally raw, and musically rich new work... Both actors possess exceptional singing voices — expressive, versatile, and emotionally charged...
Max Alexander-Taylor is magnetic and heartbreaking as Vincent... Nicholas Carter (Paul) is a perfect counterpoint — more restrained, emotionally torn, quietly simmering with frustration. Their chemistry is electric, veering from camaraderie to confrontation in a heartbeat...
Neil Bastian’s music and lyrics are a clear highlight. The score feels contemporary yet rooted in character — a mix of driving rock anthems and hushed, lyrical ballads...
Kirstie Davis’s direction makes sharp use of the intimate studio space. A few simple props — stools, an easel, a trunk — create a shifting world that always feels alive...
It distils a fraught, complex relationship into something both theatrical and truthful — a vivid exploration of artistic brilliance, mental illness, and the volatile intimacy of creative partnership.
Max Alexander-Taylor as Vinnie and Nicholas Carter as Paul (Photo: Erik Delin)
Adventures in Theatreland
The music and story are instantly captivating... the show tackles Vinnie's well-documented decline in mental health with bold sensitivity...
Max Alexander-Taylor delivers a terrific performance as Vinnie, bringing out the hopeful optimist charm alongside the paranoid, terrified madness... Carter's joy is infectious, with a glorious vocal talent…
Bastian's score is instantly gripping, haunting, clever and emotional, with several standout out numbers, such as Way Past Midnight, Like a Painter Man and Wheatfield with Crows. The lyrics are ingenious…
...A colourful, ambitious and brilliant musical.
Number 9 Reviews
I would recommend seeing this little musical before it hits the big time. The Rise and Fall of Vinnie and Paul is going somewhere...
Max Alexander-Taylor was cast so well in this part and has a wonderful voice. Paul Gauguin was played by Nicolas Carter: a powerful and extraordinary voice. Together, these two performances were made for each other... complementing each other throughout...
Kirstie Davis has... created a visual atmosphere and encouraged these two amazing young men to perform with passion and emotion... If we view this as a taster of what is to come, I can only say 'bring it on'.
Theatre and Tonic
Brims with ambition... Max Alexander-Taylor and Nicholas Carter are both vocally strong, their voices... effortlessly filling and commanding the space. The exquisite harmonies and melodic counterpoints are well-executed...
Some moments shine; most notably Alexander-Taylor’s heartfelt, powerful performance of Wheatfield with Crows.
A Youngish Perspective
The highlight of the show was Max Alexander-Taylor’s performance as the erratic and endearing Vinnie. His voice was strong and his commitment to the role was commendable... The singers’ voices soared, and one can easily see these numbers as audition pieces...
Wheatfield with Crows was excellent, it was effective and balanced, and the audience were encouraged to see and empathise with Van Gogh... It would be interesting to see what a full length version of the show looks like.