Last weekend I had the opportunity (no -- privilege) to travel to Chicago with one of my best friends and view the latest Team Starkid musical, “Firebringer." Since I should not give away any major plot points, I will try to be elaborate as well as vague enough. So, unlike my other review articles, there are no plot spoilers ahead!
As soon as we entered the theater, I noticed the song playing in the background was a remix of “Run the World” mixed with prehistoric drumbeats and I knew already the musical was going to be amazing. The set was visible, and pretty basic, just landscape and sky and a cave. Since we got there earlier than others, we found a good seat close to the stage, just off to the side. Sure, it wasn’t front row center, but it was close enough to see the actors’ faces closely and that was good enough for me. The main thing that was running through my head was these people I had watched online for years are now a few feet in front of me. They are real people. Of course I will watch it again when it goes online, but this was a different kind of experience that can’t be easily repeated.
Overall, the musical was totally awesome. The music was especially different and interesting; I can’t wait to find out which songs Meredith wrote. The harmonies were on point. The dancing was sharp. We were told to expect puppets; they delivered. The different actors were all cast into their roles perfectly, and the newcomers seemed to have no problem blending in with the regulars. As a side note, Lauren Walker’s character is probably my favorite in the show. The other two new actresses, Tiffany Williams and Jamie K. Burns, were adorable and I hope they all stick around for something else. I think we were all waiting for the day Lauren Lopez played the female main character (and she still got to lie on the floor). As always, there are subtle references to pop culture tied in with the usual Starkid humor and zaniness with a distinct “Yay girls” overtone that was pleasantly not overdone.
I should also mention a little about Chicago. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a big city or on a long road trip, but it was a good way to shake up my summer. It was my first time there with a lot more traffic than I’m used to. We spent about an hour just trying to get into the city! It was nice to see another Great Lake (prettier water, but Erie has better beaches. In your face, Chicago. We have the peninsula!). And I was mentally excited to see all the skyscrapers in the distance. While driving around I got to see many cultural places that would be interesting to explore if I had more time there.
Last weekend I crossed something off a bucket list I didn’t even know I had. It was an amazing experience, and the rest of the world should be as excited as I am to see “Firebringer” online sometime later this year.
