Chicago Shakespeare Theater: 42 Balloons
Charlie McCullagh as Larry Walters
Chicago Shakespeare Theater Presents 42 BALLOONS Review - And A Lawn Chair!
TLDR: A new musical in a pre-Broadway tryout, 42 Balloons tells the story of “Lawnchair Larry” a man who wanted to fly and couldn’t stop thinking about that dream. The musical tells his story complete with emotional ups and downs, catchy songs, and a modern narrative style and set design.
Lisa Howard as Margaret Van Deusen, Akron Watson as Ron Richland, Charlie McCullagh as Larry Walters, and Evelyn Hoskins as Carol Van Deusen
Chicago Shakes Presents A Man With A Dream
He rises above the stage on a hydraulic platform, the video screens behind him showing the blue sky moving faster and faster as he gains altitude. The meter on the screen moving fast ticking up from 1,000 feet, to 5,000, to 8,000 to suddenly he’s at 16,000 feet and stops. He was not supposed to go this high, but here he is. In a makeshift flying device consisting of a lawn chair bought from the Sears catalog and 42 weather balloons tied to the back, his dream has come true.
We knew coming into 42 Balloons this was going to be a story about a man creating a flying device. However, what you may or may not have known was that this is based on a true story. The opening lines of the ensemble’s first song are quite literally this is a true story, you can look it up after the show. We’re treated to so much more than just a narrative about how Larry makes his infamous flight. We’re taken through everything from how his dream started, to the lead-up to making his flight, to the aftermath when he lands and all the emotional ups and downs in between.
The ensemble of 42 Balloons
The Very Model of a Modern Major Musical
The events of 42 Balloons happened in the 80s and we do get some inspiration from that time period. As Larry is doing his calculations for building his device, the video screens turn to graph paper with neon geometric shapes. We hear notes of an electronic synth woven into the songs. There’s projections of those cheesy floating head portrait photos that were popular back then. And the costumes range from 70s aviator shades to 80s wide legged jeans, to 90s ugly sweaters, with costume design by Natalie Pryce. The ensemble also wears hi-tops, white sneakers, and jumpsuits that make them feel like part of an aviation crew.
But the majority of all the theatrical elements that go into the show feel modern. The set is minimal with sloping walls making it feel like we’re in the bowl of a skate park. The ensemble runs up and down the sides of the bowl creating dramatic levels as they dance.
The aforementioned video screens make it easy to create stunning visuals in the background with designs by Andrzej Goulding. Photos pop up from news articles. Blueprints are shown with all 42 (or maybe 43?) balloons. As Larry sings about his passion of pursuing this dream, illustrated graphics of him are displayed behind him making him larger than life. And as Larry is interviewed on late night talk shows, the cameras are rolling and we get a live video stream of the actors on stage projected onto the screens.
Then it feels like we’ve got references to other modern musicals adding to this new musical feel. We’ve got the turntable stage that feels very Hadestown. Some numbers with fast paced, rapping lyrics that feel like a nod to Hamilton. And Carol’s heartbreak solo is giving Jane Seymour’s ballad from Six as she pours her heart out about loving this man. The music of 42 Balloons is so damn catchy you’ll be singing 42 balloons AND A LAWN CHAIR long after you leave the theater.
Charlie McCullagh as Larry Walters with the ensemble
Multi-faceted Characters and Narrative Style
The narrative style also falls outside of a traditional musical. Let’s call it metafiction (thanks ChatGPT) where the cast is consistently breaking the fourth wall and engaging with us as they tell the story. We relate to the ensemble as they tell us they too were in disbelief that this happened, but again, we should look it up after the show. Our named characters, Larry, Carol, Carol’s mom, and Ron all have moments where they step back from their character and offer some thoughts or commentary on their character to us during the course of the show as well.
Then comes these phenomenal actors and their portrayals of these people. Though Larry is the one who actually made the flight and gained notoriety because of it, 42 Balloons equally focuses on those who were around him who helped him achieve his goal.
Charlie McCullagh as Larry is a little shy and awkward. He tries to follow what he thinks his path should be - entering the army, trying to become a pilot. When that doesn’t work, he feels directionless and paints a compelling picture of a man who was figuring things out. Things were finally looking up when he meets the love of his life, but this dream of flying won’t let him be. McCullagh does a fantastic job of balancing passion for flying without it turning into a full fledged, overwhelming obsession so we buy into Larry’s dream. It may not be something we ourselves would ever try, but we get why he needs to do this.
Then comes his partner in crime (literally), his long-term girlfriend, Carol played by Evelyn Hoskins. Their initial love song when they meet at a bar one random night is every bit as rom-com as you want it to be. With Larry awkwardly approaching Carol asking her about outer space to Carol being very uncertain to her being charmed by his uncertainty and genuineness. Hoskins is a powerhouse as she plays the driving force behind helping Larry achieve his dreams. She’s scared and vulnerable about the fact that someone she loves wants to attempt this crazy dangerous stunt, but she loves him so she’ll do anything for him. And when she has her moment in the spotlight, she leaves it all on stage belting about being his air as she comes to terms with how much she has given.
And finally add in Carol’s mother, Margaret, played by Lisa Howard and Larry’s good friend Ron, played by Akron Watson. Howard is the hard edge mother who you do not want to mess with as she throws her skeptical eye at the man dating her daughter. And Watson though is mostly here to also help Larry’s flight, he has his own dreams that have us cheering him on for pursuing.
All together these four plus the energetic ensemble playing any additional characters take us on the journey and we have fun the whole way.
Evelyn Hoskins as Carol Van Deusen and Charlie McCullagh as Larry Walters
The After Party Thoughts
What I think makes this musical stand out is it shows the aftermath of the flight. On the surface, 42 Balloons is a simple story of a man with a dream and achieving that dream. You could easily make everything lead up to the flight itself and have a triumphant end as Larry flies making his dream come true. But this show goes deeper. It feels like there’s so much emotion jam packed into the second act where we see what happens with his 15 minutes of fame and the lingering aftermath of the flight years later. It felt like to get through all of it we needed to, it takes a very fast pace but was necessary because we needed all those moments to paint us the full picture. By the end, though, we do get the chance to breathe when we hit our moment of catharsis.
This musical is also striking me at a time coming right off the heels of the two year anniversary of the Titan underwater submersible disaster. I don’t know if any of you were following that spectacle back in 2023 and the subsequent fallout, but I couldn’t help but see the similarities between these men creating a flying device and an underwater vessel. One man’s hubris taking risks and putting it on others to help him get there and deal with the consequences.
Luckily our man Larry is written and played by McCallaugh not like he has a huge ego or is a narcissist or has the world handed to him on a plate like some of these other men. 42 Balloons paints his story as he was a regular guy going through a regular life just with a nagging dream he couldn’t shake. And so that message, to dream and follow those dreams, even if they seem a little far fetched, is what we’re left with. Just remember those who helped you along the way.
42 Balloons takes a cultural moment and dives deep into the story. For those that are looking for a new musical that follows the evolution of this new, modern theatrical style with emotionally deep characters and catchy, fun songs, 42 Balloons would be an amazing fit for you.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Charlie McCullagh as Larry Walters with the ensemble
When
Now through June 29, 2025
Where
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
800 E Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Runtime: 2hrs 20min including intermission
Tickets
$30+
Tickets can be purchased through the Chicago Shakespeare Theater website
Photos
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
Charlie McCullagh as Larry Walters and Evelyn Hoskins as Carol Van Deusen
CAST
Daniel Assetta (Air Traffic Controller / Ensemble)
Kailin Brown (Ensemble)
Devin Cortez (Ensemble)
Cameron Anika Hill (Ensemble)
Evelyn Hoskins (Carol Van Deusen)
Lisa Howard (Margaret Van Deusen)
Josh Hoon Lee (Ensemble)
Minju Michelle Lee (The Kid / Ensemble)
Charlie McCullagh (Larry Walters)
Austin Nelson Jr. (David Letterman / Ensemble)
Morgan Schoenecker (Ensemble)
Akron Watson (Ron Richland / Ensemble)
Julia Bain (Understudy)
Lacey Jack (Understudy)
Joshua Messmore (Understudy)
Luke Nowakowski (Understudy)
CREATIVE
Jack Godfrey (Writer)
Ellie Coote (Director & Dramaturg)
Joe Beighton (Orchestrator & Musical Supervisor)
Alexzandra Sarmiento (Choreographer)
Milla Clarke (Scenic Designer)
Natalie Pryce (Costume Designer)
Andrzej Goulding (Video Designer & Animator)
Bruno Poet (Lighting Designer)
Paul Gatehouse (Sound Designer)
Patrick B. Philips (Music Director)
Chels Morgan (Intimacy Director)
Kate DeVore (Dialect Coach)
Patrick Goodwin | The Telsey Office (Casting)
Bob Mason (Chicago Casting)
Billie Aken-Tyers (Associate Director)
Camden Gonzales (Associate Choreographer)
Tony DiBernardo (Associate Scenic Designer)
Joseph Haggerty (Associate Sound Designer)
Brendan Marble (Assistant Lighting Designer)
Kailey Rockwell (Assistant Music Director)
Jinni Pike (Production Stage Manager)
Emma Franklin (Assistant Stage Manager)
Tuesday Thacker (Production Assistant)