A struggling writer waiting tables in New York is sitting on the ticking time bomb of turning 30. As his birthday approaches he feels growing pressure to change his life and make something of himself. His best friend Mike has given up acting and got a well- paid job. His girlfriend Susan wants to move out of the city and settle down.

The musical was written by the late Jonathan Larson before he wrote the hit musical Rent, and would appear to be about his own life before he became successful. It is a compelling story about friendship, love and the pursuit of dreams.

Independent theatre company Maple Giant have brought the show to life with a cast of three all-singing all-dancing professional actors and a band.

Hansel Tan is excellent as the neurotic soul-searching Jon. He portrays Jon’s quirks sympathetically and adds humour to the performance. Edward Blagrove gives depth to the character of Mike, showing effectively how he is both pleased and tortured by his successful lifestyle. Bonnie Hurst sings her heart out as Susan and other characters, giving a performance that stands out as sassy and vocally impressive. The actors must be admired for their versatility and energy as between them, they play ten characters.

The musical has very funny moments and some great comic songs. I particularly liked one called Sugar which Jon sings in a supermarket about his love for refined sugary snacks. A scene where Jon pokes fun at the customers at the diner in which he works is also very comic and something any malcontent worker can relate to. Arguments between Jon and Susan contain dialogue so genuine it elicited laughs from the audience.

Props are used minimally and instead the action is conveyed by monologues or through clever direction by Amy Cooke-Hodgson. The show is hugely entertaining and features a variety of songs played out with zest by a live band. It raises the question all dreamers must face: at what point do you compromise? And it will certainly strike a chord with anyone nearing the age of 30.