The musical is focused on two 17 year old boys who are in a psychiatric hospital, Bernie has tried to commit suicide for a second time by slitting his wrists and David believes that he has the powers of a wolf. They both have a dark and secret past, although Bernie on the outside appears to be the popular sporty school boy, whilst David has been hustling on the streets since he was 13. A friendship develops between these two boys and they eventually feel comfortable enough to share their problems with each other (something they will not do with the doctors).
The two young lads are played fantastically and with great sensitivity by the talented Paul Holowaty and Gregg Lowe. Paul as David is not the greatest singer but this is not really required for the wolfboy of the title. The singer is certainly good enough but I felt that he's ability to move from the confident and cocky know it all wolfboy to the vulnerable and scared boy inside was amazing. Greg as Bernie also showed great talent for such a young actor and again showed great sensitivity moving between the cocky and the vulnerable. His voice although not powerful was extremely pleasant and the harmonisation between himself and his brother Christian (Daniel Boys) was beautiful.
The other 2 characters in the musical the nurse Cherry and the brother Christian were played with style by Emma Rigby and Daniel Boys. Emma Rigby was making her debut on the west end stage and managed to add some humour into a musical that did require some light relief. I thought that her comic timing was very good but at times it was difficult to hear her clearly so if she wants to move on to bigger theatres will need to work on the projection of her voice.
Daniel Boys is the old hand of the musical and has the most fabulous voice. His voice is powerful but I thought that he balanced it just perfectly when singing with Gregg Lowe. He plays the caring and loving brother of Bernie but he again is hiding a secret. I think that he has very much helped this musical to reach a level that it deserves to be on the London stage. He's acting ability is now almost on a par with his singing.
The story unfolds well within the hour and a half duration as you begin to understand why each of the characters has arrived at the place that we find them. It most certainly is not a musical that suits everyone but if you're willing to be challenged then I'd recommend that this is a musical well worth seeing next time it is staged.