Anthony Rapp - Without You

There’s no denying US singer and actor Anthony Rapp’s considerable talents. He’s got a golden, honeyed voice; he has a commanding yet easy-going stage presence; and he can move. And he more than ably displays all of those qualities in his musical show Without You.

Or to give it its correct title, Anthony Rapp – Without You. For despite dealing with both the death of Rent composer Jonathan Larson while Rapp was rehearsing for the musical’s opening, and covering the illness and death of Rapp’s mother, the real subject of Anthony Rapp – Without You is (you’ve guessed it) Anthony Rapp.

In form, it’s beautifully presented – a seamless stream of songs, memories and revelations, in which Rapp is supported by an excellent five-piece band. But he seems so intent on moving us, whether we like it or not, that he ignores many things that would have brought the work some depth.

There’s little on why Rent was significant in US musical theatre, and nothing on how Rapp, as a gay actor felt, in a work that deals so openly with homophobia. But when it comes to him having a tearful meeting with Larson’s grieving parents, he tells us exactly how he felt – at length.

Likewise with his dying mother, there’s plenty of material on the irritation he felt at waiting in hospitals and having to eat hospital food, but nothing on what was special about her or even about their relationship. What’s important is that we feel his pain, but he seldom tells us why.

With a slightly wider focus, this could have been a fantastic show.