Trevor the Musical Parent Guide

Based on the 1995 short film which prompted the creation of The Trevor Project, Trevor the Musical tells the story of 13-year-old Trevor (Holden Hagelberger), a gay teen trying to figure out who he is in 1981 America. He is obsessed with the music of Diana Ross, dreams of winning his school’s talent show, and has a crush on a friend. But for a gay kid in the 1980s, falling in love comes with more than the usual risks.

Like the Disney+ release of Hamilton, this isn’t an original movie. Instead, it’s a filmed performance of a musical, an off-Broadway one in this case. I’m a big fan of musicals but I realize they’re not for everyone, so consider yourself warned. Unfortunately, this production lacked the storytelling, depth, or musicality to reach the heights I expect from the genre.

There are structural issues with the script that get in the way of what could have been a far more impactful story. The first act is jumbled, and I had a hard time following the plot, even though it should be very simple. The second act is a little better, with more emotional payoff, but it still comes across as rushed. The story itself is one worth telling, as are the themes, but the script, and frankly the medium, hold it back. In the end, Trevor learns that life is about living your truth and embracing what makes you unique, not trying to hide yourself in order to fit in. I appreciate that the story relates this theme to differences in general, not just sexual orientation or identification, which makes it relatable to a broad audience.

Aside from the plot, the most important aspect of a musical is, well, the music. And unfortunately, this production is severely lacking in that department. The songs are all generic and boring. I just finished watching this and I can’t repeat a single lyric, aside from ones from well-known Diana Ross songs that are sprinkled into the soundtrack. There is no sense of style or uniqueness in the instrumentation that makes this production stand out as a musical. It could have just been a regular play and I think it might have been more effective.

Holden Hagelberger’s performance as Trevor is outstanding for his age, but the rest of the cast act like they’re in a high school production, though I guess that’s to be expected as the majority of them are actual teenagers. Child actors can be pretty hit-and-miss so I’m not usually a fan of movies that rely heavily on junior stars – but that’s my own personal bias and your opinion may differ.

Production issues aside, the play deals with some mature themes, including suicide, making it unsuitable for young audiences. If you’re a big fan of musicals, like myself, this may be worth a watch, but general audiences won’t lose out if they give it a miss.