Boom X lives up to expectations
and more

Rick Miller’s one-man show presents the music, politics and culture of the 70s, 80s and 90s

By Byron Toben

One of my rave reviews of 2016 was for Rick Miller’s show Boom. Now he’s back with the second of his ambitious Boom Trilogy, Boom X.

Boom dealt with the generation from the birth of the nuclear bomb until 1970, when Rick was born. As I mentioned at that time, he nevertheless really captured the zeitgeist of that era. Read my review of that show, Boom is my kind of show.

Now, in Boom X, he captures the feel of his own generation. This bustling one-man show is done with the combination of the music, politics and culture of the 70s, 80s and 90s.

The fictional Phileas Fogg managed to go around the world in 80 days, but the real life Rick Miller time travels three decades in only 120 minutes.

This is accomplished in and around a transparent “diamond” screen that flashes printed headlines of the passing years as he voices some 100 characters and performs snatches of 38 iconic songs of the times, complete with zippy costume and wig changes.

One of my rave reviews of 2016 was for Rick Miller’s show Boom. Now he’s back with the second of his ambitious Boom Trilogy, Boom X.

This kaleidoscope of persons and places is much too numerous to list here, but off hand I recall baseball (the Expos figure prominently), Woodstock, the Kent State shootings, the FLQ crisis, the ’76 Olympics and Miller’s own all time Fringe hit, MacHomer.

Among the songs superbly mimicked are titles by Bob Dylan, Bob Marley and Alanis Morissette. Four were originals by Miller himself.

There is a talkback with the audience after each show and later, in the atrium, Miller flogs his DVDs and scripts.

Boom X premiered at Theatre Calgary earlier this year and will tour elsewhere in North America, before heading off to Europe. The trilingual actor can perform it in French and German.

More to come. When this show has run its course, watch out for Boom M which will take on the Millennial generation.

Boom X continues at the Segal centre until March 10.
514 739-7944
segalcentre.org

Feature image: Craig FrancisBouton S'inscrire à l'infolettre – WestmountMag.ca

Read more articles from Byron Toben


Byron Toben, a past president of The Montreal Press Club, has been WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer since July 2015. Previously, he wrote for since terminated web sites Rover Arts and Charlebois Post, print weekly The Downtowner and print monthly The Senior Times. He also is an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians.

last minute



There are no comments

Add yours