A musical based on the works of influential sci-fi author Ray Bradbury has real potential given the ongoing relevance of his themes – notably the impact of technology on our lives – and the fact that his work, however futuristic, is rooted in human emotions.
Unfortunately, 2116 – a blend of musical, dance, physical theatre and even some puppetry -is a patchy affair thanks to a lack of memorable songs and a disjointed story, which takes various characters, tales and themes from Bradbury’s work and cobbles them together without any satisfying narrative arc to unite them.
It starts well. The first half introduces us to the ageing, fading Mr and Mrs Wycherly. Playing on the very real fears of what happens to us when we get old, and to the loved ones we leave behind, the story sees them buy each other robot versions of their younger selves. Naturally, it all goes wrong. It’s a simple tale, well told, and the opening song, ‘Touching Forty Years,’ is sweetly melancholic. Hopes are high for a thoroughly engaging show.
Alas, it’s mostly downhill from here. The second half is a series of character vignettes showing how they’ve all come to be outlaws in a future totalitarian society. There’s little to connect them, the songs are mediocre, the lyrics sometimes clunky, and it ends abruptly with the impressive, potentially uplifting ‘Joyous Anarchy’ number, but its too little too late and the celebratory tone is at odds with the oppressive themes of the preceding tales.
It’s a bit of a mishmash overall. Many of the numbers lack polish, with occasionally weak vocals. The choreography is good, the cast are game, but they’re working hard in service of a story and structure that doesn’t deliver, and with songs that fail to dazzle.
2/5 
Lee McRonald
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