Review: 36 Questions

I’m not sure how I can admit this and keep a hold of my theater-professional card but I am going to admit it: I am a terrible theater person. I usually only see shows I work on, I have seen fewer stage performances than concerts in the past five years, and I’m really, really bad at knowing names. 

That last one, that’s across the board. I once had a whole conversation with a man I watched weekly on television for literal years, only to find out who he was over dinner that night. While some might find this to be a curse, I think it’s a superpower. It makes people, people. It makes voices, voices, and it made this podcast even better for me.

Today’s podcast review is 36 Questions. Produced by Two-Up and released in 2017, this podcast has a cast total of three. Our main two characters, Jase and Judith, or is her name Natalie? We’ll find out. These two are attempting to reconcile their marriage using the 36 questions, a psychological theory that two strangers exchanging these questions could fall in love - just by the questions. 

This three-act podcast-musical is one of the best pieces of audio I have ever listened to. Each episode is about 45 minutes or slightly more, of beautiful dramatic tension. This isn’t a fiction piece that feels like it was a project resigned to the audio medium by budgets or not being green-lit. No, this musical thrives on the tension of not being able to see the cast. You rely on the device of “on the record” voice notes, recorded by Judith - a habit she might have just so she can keep her stories straight.

You see, Judith pretended to be Natalie for the entirety of her relationship with Jace. These 36 questions are her, apparently telling the truth. What’s fantastic is that even years later, there’s no way we, or Jase, know the truth. All we have are these voices, these songs, and a personal hunch as to whether or not Judith is telling the truth.

The overall production quality, design, and musically, is brilliant. There are no dull moments, either from the dramatic action itself or the support the audio itself gives each moment. This is a podcast that hooks the listener through story and sound, musically and more. Truly, this is a masterful audio experience with an excellent balance of drama, vulnerability, silliness, and fear. As I’m writing this in 2024, it’s made even better because this was a pre-lockdown project. They didn’t get these stellar performances by way of live theater not being an option. It also gives pause on a reflection of sorts. 

This musical starts so far in the past, it makes me wonder how hard it would be to pretend to be someone in the age of the digital footprint. It’s neither a good thing, nor is it a bad thing, but it is a point. How much of this drama wouldn’t be possible in a musical set exactly in 2024, or would it be more interesting with the success of Judith being able to pretend so deeply, for so long. Or how well did she pretend in the first place if Jase’s moms never really trusted her anyway?

Judith is played by Jessie Stelton, an incredible Broadway actress who graced the original cast of Hadestown. Jase is played by none other than Jonathan Groff, of Frozen and Hamilton fame. So truly, the fact that these two actors are on this podcast doesn’t just attest to their talent of audio work, it attests to their range as professionals as a whole. Their performances are spectacular as two people trying to figure out what is going on and what this kind of lie means between them.

As to round this back to my opening paragraph, I didn’t realize it was Jonathan Groff, a voice I am extremely familiar with because both Frozen and Hamilton each took the world by storm in their ways. In my opinion, it’s a testament to a performance where you can’t pick out who the person is. The chemistry between these two voices blends into an incredible story that I feel like I may have to revisit, at least vis a-vis the soundtrack, on at least an annual basis. 

I honestly think some of us could write a dissertation on this musical, but this website isn't for that. Maybe send me an email if you want to discuss it. I'm all for it.

Thank you to Wil Williams for suggesting I dive into this podcast. Check out Wil’s Podcast Promise for a different style of podcast review, which I adore. 

If you like this review, be sure to check out more of the Audio Drama Autumn, or my other podcast reviews! 

Listen to 36 Questions below