Tick, Tick...Boom! is fun and relatable

The rock musical hits home for those who feel they have to reach certain milestones early in life

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What does success look like, and does it depend on the age when it is achieved?

American playwright and composer Jonathan Larson (1960-1996) poses this question in his semiautobiographical rock musical Tick, Tick... Boom!, where he reflects on efforts to establish himself in the New York musical theatre scene.

The musical opens with Jon (Preston Lim) introducing himself to the audience, as though the show was part of a theatre workshop.

The opening number, 30/90, is easily relatable as Jon bemoans his looming 30th birthday, worrying about his lack of achievement while his friends are advancing in their careers.

It hits home for those who feel they have to reach certain milestones early in life. In highpressure Singapore, where success can feel like a checklist each person is born with, 30/90 feels cathartic, like a verbalisation of words seldom said out loud.