Gone are the days of the ‘And they lived happily ever after’ trope and reality setting in. Bombarded with representations of love throughout the ages, notions of what love looks like are currently being dismantled. Relationship gurus perhaps the closest we’ll get currently to addressing what it takes to make a relationship last. Back with their second musical which I’m sure will be a hit, Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow of Six the Musical fame pen Why Am I So Single?, a self deprecating reality check of the dating scene in the early 21st century.
Flatmates Nancy (Leesa Tulley) and Oliver (Jo Foster) both long to find their other halves, their arduous pursuits on dating apps not resulting in much luck. What ensures is an examination as to why it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to find the one – analogies to Ross and Rachel of Friends a comical yet sobering reminder of the references Millenials and Gen Z cling onto to help navigate the dating world. Why Am I So Single? A fun foray into a world trying to find its feet again post Covid, a confusing time, we seek some sort of measure/composure – love a source of hope.
Moss and Marlow penning a fresh, honest take on the dating scene which is appreciated. It doesn’t romanticise love, it presents it for what it is which makes the show funnier. Tulley and Foster embodying an allyship resonant of many a friendship making them immediately relatable. References to Beauty and the Beast with the cast as pieces of the flatmate’s furniture, and Oliver!, a nod to celebrated musicals and of course a novelty to feature musicals within a musical.
Moss directs a flamboyant evening – we jostle constantly between the mundane whenever we’re situated in the flat and the more vibrant, with Black Eyed Peas, Marilyn Monroe, Friends inspired musical numbers crafted brilliantly by both Future Cut and MNEK who tap into the worlds of dance and electro well, adding to the show’s flamboyance and lightheartedness. Ellen Kane co-directing an entertaining evening, choreographing sharp, energetic commercial infused sequences that push the narrative along. Costume designer Max Johns contributing an eclectic eye in terms of the inventive furniture costume pieces worn by the ensemble, to references made to Marilyn Monroe’s iconic pink dress worn in the iconic ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’ musical number of golden aged Hollywood to your more eclectic modern style of piecing outfits together from various eras, we’re connected to the ‘now’.
After the success of Six the Musical, I can only imagine the pressure to craft something as impactful, yet Moss and Marlow rise to the challenge – they’re ability to centre stories around underrepresented protagonists something that really defines them as a creative force.
Review written by Lucy Basaba.
Why Am I So Single is currently showing until Thursday 13th February 2025 at the Garrick Theatre. To find out more about the production, visit here…
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