© DeWynters Claire Allfree, The Telegraph ★★★★ Folan has the nervy charm of Back to the Future's George McFly that he makes his own Christopher Fry plays his depressed father and brings heart and humour to the role Stewart Clarke's Squip initially appears like a superhero in a Matrix frock coat ('You look like Keanu Reeves,' says Jeremy) but turns power-crazed and darkly charismatic Michael (Anderson) is winning as the grounded geek who knows his high-school persecution will not last.' And although they are all recognisable types, they steer just clear of appearing generic for the main.

'Every cast member shines, both as individual performers and an ensemble.

They hover delicately around the drama and create an extra layer of anxious meaning. 'If the Squip is an internet-age metaphor for drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin, or for the noise of social media, neither of these aspects are driven home with heavy-handedness. Arriving from Broadway, it feels gloriously like its own thing, filled with astute observation alongside delightfully silly humour and storming performances. ' Be More Chill is far from a neat continuation of a trend. It'll be exciting to see where Anderson turns next.' 'The real stand-out here is Blake Patrick Anderson's Michael – endearing, loyal and brimming with heart, he also gets the showstopping number in the form of 'Michael in the Bathroom' just after act two kicks off. There are comical yet fleet turns from the rest of the cast who each get their own moments to shine – Renée Lamb's Jenna, Millie O'Connell's Chloe and Eloise Davies' Brooke in anarchic number 'The Smartphone Hour' or Miracle Chance as Scott's quirky crush Christine in 'I Love Play Rehearsal'. It's the kind of excruciating central turn that Be More Chill demands and Folan fits the role like a slightly oversized tee. Taking all the right cues from another sci-fi classic Little Shop of Horrors, Scott Folan's Jeremy is a soon-to-be Seymour – squeaky and squawky, slightly hunched as if actively trying to make himself smaller. 'Where Be More Chill does have the edge over other high school musicals are Joe Iconis' tunes – catchy and hummable, they ping along and never outstay their welcome, especially 'Two Player Game', 'More Than Survive' and the finale 'Voices in My Head'. This is most clearly demonstrated in Alex Basco Koch's stylised projections – making The Other Palace's intimate space feel twice as wide as it actually is. From the neon glow of Beowulf Boritt's set to the jerky, angular hand gestures that reappear in Chase Brock's choreography or the synth-y orchestrations of Charlie Rosen, Brackett has set phasers to stun and largely succeeded. 'Stephen Brackett's production, transporting most of the Broadway creative team across to the UK, wears its B-movie credentials on Bobby Frederick Tilley's quirkily costumed sleeves.

Be more chill musical