Review: TAKE ME HOME, Original Cast Recording
Take Me Home is a one-man semi-autobiographical musical with a pop infused score, written during lockdown. It tells the story of a young gay man navigating life and love in Belfast, while wrestling with the politics, relationships and the pull of the place he calls home. The show concludes when abortion rights and equal marriage were introduced in Northern Ireland.
This musical takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions, told directly from Drew Dillon’s engaging and moving score. Dillon wrote both the words and music during lockdown and performed the show in front of 50 people at The Lowry in Salford. Back then it was called 34, now Dillion wants to use this new title and be able to stage and tour it, especially in his home of Belfast.
The 34 tracks are a good and fair representation of these communities in Belfast. If you know very little about the politics in Northern Ireland, this feels like a short education into those tough times. Some of the songs definitely stick with you; ‘Flying Home’, ‘Pieces of Me’ and title song ‘Take Me Home’ are poignant to the story. What makes this cast recording even more powerful is the narrative that plays the foundations. Dillion has been able to create the voices of these communities and it will be a fantastic production if it is given the opportunity to truly flourish.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Emmie Newitt
You can listen to Take Me Home over on Spotify here.
