Be More Chill (Saltpillar Theatre), at Phoenix Theatre in Elwood - 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval

While the underlying message of Be More Chill, namely to be yourself and be true to yourself, is pertinent, this is a very silly musical, pitched at a teen audience.

Featuring a number of catchy, up-tempo songs, Saltpillar Theatre does a good job with the material, such that it is.

Photos by Peter Haskin

Frankly, at two and a half hours including interval, it feels like a long show.

It is certainly one that calls upon you to suspend belief.

You are best to simply go with the flow and not try to make too much sense of it all.

Forget substantive or intelligent. This is just zany.

Jeremy Heere is an awkward, bullied, high school nerd who lives with his father (after his mother left), who wanders about the house not wearing pants.

Jeremy’s best friend is Michael Mell, who is far more comfortable in his own skin than Jeremy is.

Jeremy takes a shine to buoyant Christine Canigula, who has signed up for the school play, so he does likewise.

But while Jeremy manages to speak with Christine, it is Jake Dillinger, one of the school’s popular kids, who makes all the right moves.

Jealous, Jeremy seizes an opportunity to be more chill, courtesy of an unlikely source, his bully Rich Goranski.

Rich tells Jeremy that he was in the same place as Jeremy before his whole outlook changed after swallowing a pill that contains a supercomputer.

Known as SQUIP (Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor), it implants itself inside the recipient’s brain and tells them what to say and do.

Jeremy buys in and upgrades himself with immediate effect, but with disastrous, long-term consequences.

Be More Chill debuted in New Jersey in 2015 and opened on Broadway in 2019 and in the West End in 2021.

The music and lyrics – for which he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score – are by Joe Iconis.

Based on a novel by Ned Vissini, which American National Public Radio selected as among the 100 best teen novels, the book is by Joe Tracz. 

What we see is so fanciful as to be ridiculous, but that doesn’t detract from the strength of the performances.

Jasper Sherman does much of the heavy lifting as Jeremy Heere, transitioning well from dork to entitled.

Jess Lenga is energy personified, a real find, friendly, open and expressive as tumble-turning Christine Canigula.

Giddy Datt brings sensitivity to Michael Mell, highlighted by the emotion-charged Michael in the Bathroom.

With attitude to burn, Eitan Meyerowitz is a standout as the Keanu Reeves-like SQUIP.

In fact, all the leads are well cast and are backed by a talented ensemble who bring enthusiasm to their respective roles.

In full voice, the chorus numbers are melodic and ear pleasing.

Music director Matan Franco on keys is on song, conducting a six-piece orchestra through a rich repertoire of numbers.

Jess Mohi’s adept choreography is among the highlights of Saltpillar’s production.

Creativity is the hallmark of costume designer Dani Harrison, who has turned out several striking “look at me” pieces.

Props are readily moved in and out of a barren stage encircled by as many as three layers of arced, luminescent colour surrounds.

While “depth” is hardly the word I would use to describe Be More Chill, the concepts it champions – finding your own voice and fitting in – are readily relatable.

Director Christian Cavallo makes the most of this rather bizarre, comedic, science-fiction, technology-based, pop-rock musical.

It is also worth noting that Saltpillar has crafted an excellent, detailed program to accompany the work.

Its production of Be More Chill is on at Phoenix Theatre in Elwood until 30^th October, 2025.