By Laura BennettMonday 20 Feb 2023UNDISTRACTEDPodcastsReading Time: 3 minutes
Do you ever think about the impact your life has on other people? Many of us would surely say we’d like our lives to matter and for our friends to love being with us and for our families to appreciate us. But what if the greatest impact your life was to have came after you passed away?
Four-time Logie award winning actor Hugh Sheridan is one of the most familiar faces on Australian TV. For six years he played Ben Rafter on the hit series Packed to the Rafters and appeared in shows like INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, House Husbands and starred his own stage show Hughman.
Now Hugh’s back on stage as Broadway playwright Jonathan Larson in Tick, Tick, Boom!
Following the same story as the Lin-Manuel Miranda directed movie starring Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick, Boom! is based on the autobiographical musical of playwright Jonathan Larson who aspired to be a great composer – but wondered if he made the wrong career choice as the real-life difficulties of living in New York City loomed large over his dreams.
Sadly, Jonathan passed away just days before his famous musical Rent made its off-Broadway debut and it wasn’t until after he died that he was awarded three Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for his work.
In Jonathan’s struggle to make ends meet and live a life of consequence, Hugh admires the songs birthed from that conviction.
“We know that falling in love often can lead to pain – there’s a risk – but why do we do it? Because it’s so good,” – Hugh Sheridan
“I love the lyrics of his songs because they’re so aspirational,” Hugh told Hope 103.2’s UNDISTRACTED podcast.
“They’re reminding you to seize the day and live everyday as though it’s your last, which is something that I’ve always believed as well.
“It’s very ironic that Jonathan wrote all of this incredible material and then he died.”
The choice that Jonathan wrestled with in his life, and that Hugh believes we all come to in our own way, is whether or not to continue in the direction of our dream pursuit or give it up in favour of a simpler, easier, life.
“It’s very, very tough to work in our industry,” Hugh said.
“I know what it’s like to question whether it’s time to stop, but that’s always a brief moment for me because I realise I can’t do anything else.”
“I know what it’s like to question whether it’s time to stop,” – Hugh Sheridan
Tick, Tick Boom! also reflects on the way we can put ourselves through seasons of pain, compelled by the hope of the good on the other side.
“[Jonathan] asks the audience, ‘Why do we do it?” Hugh said.
“Why do we run our finger though the flame? Or do things that are kind of dangerous [when] we know that we’re in for some pain?
“We do it because that’s what brings life into us and excites us: we know that falling in love often can lead to pain – there’s a risk – but why do we do it? Because it’s so good.”
Personally, for Hugh, “a lot of those moments that have been harder in life – I think there’s a bigger picture for it”.
“There’s a bigger reason, and I’m just one small part of it,” he said.
“When things do go wrong, I don’t mind being someone that can take that on if it’s going to help other people.
“It might be hard at the time, but it helps me grow.”
Tick, Tick Boom! will be playing at the Sydney Lyric from April 20.
Listen to the full episode of UNDISTRACTED with guest Hugh Sheridan to hear more about the responsibility he feels in his work, the real reason he did The Masked Singer and the origin of his love for storyteller.
Feature image: ticktickboomthemusical.com.au