Review: RIDE THE CYCLONE at Theatre South

Ride the Cyclone is one of those cult musicals - shows that didn’t have much financial success in their original runs but were later adopted by theatre kids everywhere, eventually gaining viral popularity via TikTok.  

I often describe it as a cross between Cats and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Within the first five minutes, we learn that every character has died in a freak roller coaster accident and is now pleading their individual case to survive. The show is told in a vignette-style format, giving each member of the small cast a moment to shine as they share their stories and argue their worthiness to The Amazing Karnak, the mechanical fortune-teller who controls their fate.

Theatre South has put a unique spin on this production by turning it into a pop-up musical. Whenever there’s space in their schedule, they bring the show back with a rotating cast, making it accessible for performers with varying availability and giving audiences a fresh take each time.

While I can’t hum a single tune from the score—earworm potential is often my personal litmus test for how much I connected with a show—I still genuinely enjoyed this production. The cast leaned fully into each character’s charm, idiosyncrasies, and occasional flaws, creating performances that felt distinct and committed. I remember one song involving a sugar cloud, another centered on Talia, and one that had something to do with alien cats (complete with light-up cat ears!).

The performers were clearly very talented. The tight harmonies required of a small cast were handled well, and the physical demands of the show were impressive. Much of the movement mimics the sensation of being on a roller coaster, and one performer even had the added challenge of convincingly portraying a doll.