Stalled at King’s Head Theatre
In the sparkling bathroom of a high-end Seattle building, a cleaning lady laments the loss of a family member; a young poet faces a possible unwanted pregnancy; a queer computer scientist comes to terms with her sexuality amidst fears of disappointing her Filipina mother; and an overwhelmed “career woman” attempts to come to terms with her daughter’s autism diagnosis. All of this takes place over the course of 90 minutes in Stalled, the new musical starring Tony award nominee Lauren Ward on at the King’s Head Theatre.
Stalled follows four primary characters, whose lives collide in small moments over the course of several days and, over time, intertwine in unexpected ways. Each of the characters is struggling with their own internal demons, bringing many faces to the experiences of loss, grief, abandonment and difficulty with self-worth. Their stories are told largely through musical numbers that oscillate between catchy and moving. The vocals are strong across the all-female cast, with a stand-out performance from Regina Co as Krystal, a daughter afraid to reveal her true self to her traditional mother.
The actresses are passionate in their performance and Ward’s rendition of Maggie, a mother in mourning, is particularly affecting. The play deals primarily with the often-complex relationship between mothers and daughters. While they struggle to understand and accept one another, Stalled ultimately offers an image of hope in the characters’ capacity for connection.
Despite the strong acting abilities of the show’s stars and the important themes of Stalled, the play is somewhat let down by a desire to do too much. While the wish to explore so many different characters’ stories and highlight such a variety of perspectives is highly commendable, the 90-minute nature of the show limits the capacity for success in this area. Each of the characters has potential for rich development, but with a limited run-time and a large number of characters to get to know, their backstories ultimately remain shallow.
While slightly lacking in multi-dimensionality, the characters are still loveable, brought to life as best they can be by the talented cast. Despite dealing with extremely serious topics, the play also manages to be uplifting in its depiction of female connection and the potential for healing. With heart and hope, Stalled is an engaging and enjoyable evening out.
Madison Sotos
Photos: Johan Persson
Stalled is at King’s Head Theatre from 13th February until 23rd March 2025. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
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