6 Takes on "Freak the Mighty"

Mighty or Mild?: Missed Marks in Freak the Mighty

by Alice Chen

Are you really an outcast if there’s two of you? When 15-year-old Maxwell Kane, meets Freak, a young boy with Morquio Syndrome—a disorder which causes abnormal bone growth—he finds comfort in their shared uniqueness, ultimately finding confidence as their friendship evolves.

This unexpected duo—one tall and academically struggling, one short and academically gifted—results in an incredibly wholesome relationship. Yet as the story progresses, we watch as Max juggles the haunting loss of his mother with his estranged father’s sudden appearance while navigating the ups-and-downs of repeating middle school.

Although Freak the Mighty covered mature topics surrounding abuse and loss, I found their depth became lost in the cliché nature of the plot. To nest such themes in a stereotypical 90’s musical proved to be a daunting task—a task that, to me, was not fully achieved. Recurring themes of abuse felt underdeveloped when engulfed by other plotlines.

I also hoped for a circular moment with plot elements that stood out to me. For example, the very first photo Freak and Max took together—taken in the midst of their initial encounter with the bullies—marked a pivotal moment in their friendship, but never reappeared. 

Additionally, most of Max’s struggles with self-confidence stemmed from his experience in school, so the lack of school-related scenes made it difficult to grasp Max’s own growth. The play’s attempt to compensate for the lack of school scenes through the extensive use of asides from characters was effective in understanding the plot, but I felt it underestimated the audience’s ability to draw their own conclusions. 

While Freak the Mighty may have missed its mark in some areas, its captivating use of colorful lighting, music, and dance makes it a wonderful choice for a lighthearted watch—teaching us that sometimes, it only takes one person’s support to find your voice. 

An Unexpected Kind of Mighty

by Elaine Zhang

As I stepped through the warm, fluorescent glow of the corridors and into Seattle Rep’s theatre, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Having never really seen a musical before, Freak the Mighty sounded like the typical highbrow production. Instead, I found a story not about larger-than-life heroes, but two boys who felt far easier to relate to than expected.

Freak the Mighty, based on Rodman Philbrick’s novel and presented by Seattle Rep and Cleveland Play House, follows Maxwell, a misunderstood boy who finds an unlikely friend in Kevin aka “Freak,” a brilliant and unapologetically himself neighbor who lives with Morquio syndrome. Together, the two become the inseparable “Freak the Mighty,” but it is their differences that make their friendship so riveting.

While both boys experience similar bullying, Freak and Maxwell begin the story in very different places. Freak refuses to let the way others see him define who he is; Maxwell, on the other hand, has spent much of his life believing the labels placed on him, from being “dumb” to the “Ogre” his size makes others see him as. What makes their friendship especially compelling is that Freak has already found the self-acceptance Maxwell is searching for. Rather than simply helping Maxwell survive his circumstances, Freak changes how he sees himself.

And when Freak is gone, that transformation does not disappear with him. In the musical’s devastating conclusion, Maxwell is left with the blank book Freak had given him. Watching him finally begin to fill its pages makes their friendship feel larger than the time they were able to spend together. Ultimately, Freak the Mighty is less about finding someone exactly like you than finding someone who helps you become more fully yourself. 

Courage is Found in Unlikely Places: A Review of Freak the Mighty

by Joseph Hwang

What makes someone mighty? In Seattle Rep’s Freak the Mighty, physical strength is only one of the possible answers. Maxwell Kane, played by Netza Jimenez, is large enough to intimidate others, yet he stays quiet behind his headphones, rarely defending himself. Kevin “Freak” Avery, played by Cornelius Kittrell, has a body that limits his movement, but he meets every challenge with confidence and humor. 

While the obvious contrast between the two characters is physical, the production gradually reveals how much deeper their differences run. Kittrell plays Freak with a bright, theatrical energy, never failing to turn insults into jokes, ordinary experiences into adventures, and always seeking the next obstacle to overcome. As the audience learns more about Freak’s condition, we begin to understand why he chooses to fill his life with so much imagination and joy. 

By contrast, Jimenez’s Max is much quieter and more emotionally grounded. He lets people bully him because he has already accepted their assumptions about who he is — their singing reflects this difference. Freak’s voice is lighter and more playful, while Max’s carries a deeper emotional weight.

Under Michael Barakiva’s direction, these distinct performances fit together naturally, and the central friendship remains convincing throughout. Max gives Freak the physical freedom to experience more of the world, while Freak gives Max the confidence to participate in it. Rather than just changing the other for the better, they recognize something in the other that everyone else has overlooked.

Together, they become “Freak the Mighty,” a name that combines Kevin’s identity with Max’s strength, and its meaning extends beyond both qualities. This production’s answer to its opening question is simple – being mighty means helping someone else discover the strength they already possess.

A vocabulary lesson with Seattle Rep’s Freak the Mighty on friendship, belonging and the beauty of live performance

by Kylie Lippe

Glimmering orchestral swells and lively voices welcome you to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in Freak the Mighty’s opening number: “A Day in the Life of Maxwell Kane”. A 90's “bigger than most kids” teenage boy, whose desk, unlike his classmate’s, is void of books, paper, or pens. 

A traumatic family past, the unconventionality of living with his Grim and Gram, and struggles with literacy keep Mighty isolated from Portsmouth's small but quirky and dual-roled cast of characters. The narrative and Maxwell's desk transform when Mighty’s geeky counterpart Kevin “Freak” Avery moves in next door. 

The audience is shown a character, Kevin, who, through clever jokes and an impressive vocabulary, quickly becomes a role model for Maxwell and the people of Portsmouth. Stories of acceptance and belonging have been told countless times before, yet it is not often that a character like Freak acts as a guide for others and proof of the undeniable joy that comes with not just accepting who we are but finding pride in it. These themes are tied into often underrepresented characters like Kevin's single mother and Maxwell's grandparents who as a result, begin to see themselves differently.

Between neighborhood adventures, Kevin translates reading into something accessible and exciting for Maxwell. In an imaginative display of neurodivergent learning, a page comes to life, embroiling the pair in a fantastical tale with a technically marvelous set and lighting design to match. Both elements kept the plot moving both literally and figuratively; each ever-changing set piece and moody light established a compelling and contagious atmosphere that complimented the storytelling and transformed it from its previous forms.

This wholehearted retelling by the Seattle Rep and a talented cast of actors, musicians, and technicians is a triumphant tale that earns its place and makes for an absolutely enchanting watch.

Shattering Shadows: The Healing Bond of Friendship in Freak the Mighty

by Rowan Santos

Vintage windows crowded the stage, casting a dark, weary atmosphere over the set. Entering Freak the Mighty without exposition, I braced for something gothic, shadowed, and ghostly. Instead, it subverted my expectations, portraying characters forged by dark pasts who find each other through friendship. Together, Maxwell Kane, a tall, brawny boy outcast for his physique and academic struggles, and Kevin Avery ("Freak"), who battles Morquio syndrome (a condition affecting bone growth) yet thrives academically, become "Freak the Mighty," transcending their small town and unearthing imperative life lessons.

Though the musical occasionally "tells" instead of "shows," it captivates its audience while weaving a complex message: friendship can dismantle generations of trauma and stop it from being passed down.

Maxwell is alienated by his peers, branded an "Ogre," haunted by his father, Kane, who murdered his mother. This dark lineage shadows his existence: until Kevin arrives. Though direct foils, both feel exiled by society. Kevin gifts Maxwell academia, imagination, and literature; Maxwell gifts Kevin bravery and authenticity. Together, they navigate bullies and adventures as Kevin fulfills his fantasy of becoming a hero.

Most importantly, Kevin teaches Maxwell to love himself. Maxwell begins defying the notion that he's an "Ogre," destined to mirror his father's criminality. When Kane returns and takes Maxwell hostage, Kevin rescues him—the ultimate testament to their bond. This makes Kevin's death all the more tragic. Rather than inheriting his father's path, Maxwell inherits Kevin's stories and wisdom, carrying their journey forward.

Though the musical vividly captures their bond, many moments tell rather than show. Asides often explain emotions, making genuine moments feel forced or rushed. I longed for subtler instances—shared laughter, inside jokes, small details revealing their friendship in real time—since the brisk pace leaves little room for deeper moments to simmer, moments that would make the ending even more devastating.

Freak the Mighty, but Failed by the Many

by Thien-Nhi Nguyen

Set in the 1990s in Portsmouth, Freak the Mighty follows a “day in the life of Maxwell Kane and Kevin “Freak” Avery,” two kids who are ostracized by society. Their biggest threat is not the gang that threatens their lives; rather, it’s the institutions and adults that are meant to protect them. 

Max constantly lives under the shadow of his father– whom he can barely remember. He longs for a father figure in his life, while his grandpa keeps his distance. Because Max bears a resemblance to his father, everyone fears he’ll turn out like his father, a fear he internalizes.  Whenever his father is mentioned, tense minor chords and eerie green lighting visually reinforce his fear.

Kevin faces a different kind of social abandonment. He’s brilliant, imaginative, and a walking dictionary, but is bullied and underestimated because of his disability. Together, both boys find solace in each other providing: acceptance, protection, and belonging.

The absence of external support makes their relationship even more endearing. Despite the play’s setting, it shows a modern critique of how those with disabilities lack support systems. When Kevin climbs onto Max’s shoulders, and the two become “Freak the Mighty,” an array of warm purple lights followed by the chimes of idiophones flooding the audience’s senses, symbolizing the pinnacle of their friendship.

The musical’s rainbow lights, sweeping music, and adventures ranging from Star Trek to King Arthur’s dragon add a fantastical aspect to the play, but overwhelm the audience. However, underneath all that glamor is a story of two children escaping from reality to survive circumstances that their adults should have better protected them from.

Their friendship is powerful. But Freak the Mighty also leaves a more uncomfortable question behind: why did they have to become each other’s heroes in the first place? 

Lead photo courtesy of Seattle Repertory Theatre.

The TeenTix Newsroom is a group of teen writers led by the Teen Editorial Staff. The Teen Editorial Staff is made up of 6 teens who curate the review portion of the TeenTix blog. For each review, Newsroom writers work individually with a teen editor to polish their writing for publication. 

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