British Musicals: ‘Why Am I So Single ?’ (2024)

 British Musicals: ‘Why Am

 I So Single ?’  (2024)

 

Book, Lyrics & Music by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss

 

History

After their success with the record-breaking, ‘Six’. Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, who met in the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society (CUMTS) faced the ‘difficult second album’. This prompted them to attend a writer's retreat in Connecticut with the kernel of an idea for a musical about diva worship.  However, as they began working on ideas, they were drawn to talk about their own dating lives and those of their friends, and realised that they wanted to write a musical with an “almost boringly normal” setting: two friends sitting on a sofa, drinking prosecco and dissecting their relatably chaotic lives. They also wanted to portray a relationship between a woman and a queer person that felt more authentic than the tired old “gay best friend” trope of the 1990s. As a result, Marlow and Moss began writing a musical loosely based on their own experiences, focusing on the friendship between a female and a character who (like Marlow) is non-binary.

In 2023, a developmental workshop was held at the Lilian Baylis Studio Theatre at Sadler's Wells, including a semi-staged public workshop presentation performed for a ticketed audience. On 14th  February 2024, a launch event was held to announce plans for the musical's premiere, with it originally being billed as ‘A Big Fancy Musical’. It was then announced that ‘Why Am I So Single ?’ would play in the West End at the Garrick Theatre from August 2024. Jo Foster and Leesa Tulley (a veteran of ‘Six’) were cast in the lead roles, with Foster reprising their role from the workshop. Preview performances began on 27th August 2024. The production is directed by Moss, with choreography by Ellen Kane, and a set design by Moi Tran.

 

Story

Loosely based on the lives of its authors, ‘Why Am I So Single ?’ follows two musical theatre writers and best friends, one female (Nancy) and one non-binary (Oliver), who are struggling to navigate the frustrations of being constantly single while also trying to write a musical. It is set in Oliver’s flat with regular flashbacks, and as with its predecessor features songs in a variety of styles.

 

In A Nutshell

‘We’re not leaving this flat until we’ve worked out why we are so single !’

 

Production

I caught what turned out to be Press Night. I was in the back row of the Circle at the Garrick Theatre, but had a wonderful view. Following a prologue, we found ourselves in Oliver’s flat, and were introduced to our protagonists, ‘Friends’ and Musical Theatre enthusiasts Oliver (Foster) and Nancy (Tulley), renamed after characters from their favourite musical, following another disastrous dating experience for Nancy. Over multiple glasses of wine, they decide to work out quite why their dating life is so disastrous. The ensemble were swiftly put to work firstly as furniture in the flat, and then in a rapid rush through Oliver’s last eight terrible dates. In fact, save Noah Thomas playing their mutual friend, Artie, none of them had a regular part, each playing a multitude of clubgoers, potential suitors etc.

The script was very funny, and given the concept, very meta with the fourth-wall being regularly broken. There were also a few musical theatre parodies, including a brief callback to Marlow & Moss’ previous success. The songs also came thick and fast, with the clever lyrics that made ‘Six’ such a success, meaning that I almost wished for surtitles as some of them were rattled out. (Also if the song title ‘I Got Off The Plane’ means anything to you, this musical is for you) The choreography, particularly from the ensemble was also wonderful. The plot as was the writers’ intention was wafer-thin, but that didn’t matter, with very little happening, despite them now having twice the time to fill. The set was understated, but very clever, and I was particularly amused by a pun written backwards on a café window in one flashback.

Both leads were amazing, particularly when they were telling each other home truths, when Foster went into full diva/nightclub singer mode, and Tulley’s emotional moments, particularly her song relating to loss. The whole cast received a massive ovation during the bows and this would seem to be perfect for any fans of ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ or ‘Six’.

 Definitely recommended.

 

Why Am I So Single ? runs at the Garrick Theatre, London until at least 13^th February 2025.

 

Favourite Song

It has to be – ‘C U Never’ – Artie’s big number (with its amazing choreography), closely followed by ‘Interlude in B Minor’, ‘Disco Ball’ and the title song ‘Why Am I So Single ?’

 

Did I Buy The Cast Recording ?

I will, when it is released.  

 

Links

Production Website: https://whyamisosingle.com/

Videos:  Why Am I So Single? - YouTube

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Poison Wood - The Musical' (Watermill Theatre, Newbury)

 

Book and Lyrics: P Burton-Morgan.

Music and Lyrics: Ben Glasstone.

 
I originally saw this new British Musical from Metta Theatre (in a cutdown form) at The Other Palace as part of MTFest 2023 in February 2023. Burton-Morgan and Glasstone have written two previous musicals together – ‘The Rhythmics’ (about an all-male Rhythmic Gymnastics Team) and ‘Cells’ (a musical film starring Clive Rowe in which two strangers’ lives become unexpectedly intertwined) – and this represents their partnership’s take on another partnership, Holmes and Watson – adapting Sherlock Holmes into a contemporary rock musical.

The scene is set in London 2028, where part-time detective Sherlock Holmes is shredding away on his electric guitar, when his landlady, professional nutritionist and blogger (on food and Holmes’ cases) Dr. Amanda Watson interrupts him with a case – a poisoning at the infamous environmental protest camps in Oakenwood. They must move fast to uncover the truth before the deepfakes and digital manipulations of their arch nemesis, tech billionaire and international potato magnate, Jan Moriarty, get them cancelled…permanently.

The Watermill is a wonderful theatre, and I was sitting upstairs towards the back of the Circle. It turned out that I had booked for the Relaxed Performance which also featured surtitles. However, by sitting up in my seat I could use the venue’s roof to obscure these as I was finding them distracting. Flicking through the programme, I was pleased to see that Gillian Kirkpatrick and Richard P. Peralta, who I saw in the MTFest version as Jan Moriarty and Marlon Lestrade, were reprising their roles. Holmes was being played by Dylan Wood and Watson by Me’Sha Bryan.

The show opens with two of its stronger numbers, ‘The Truth’ and the ridiculously catchy ‘Elementary’ both sung by Holmes and Watson, before allowing the returning cast members to shine in ‘The Joy on My Tongue’ (Lestrade) and ‘Control’ (Moriarty). The leads then got their own individual songs, before Em Williams as non-binary activist Yorri held us all entranced in her performance of ‘Flower’, before the shocking end of Act 1. The script was very witty, and the patron next to me seemed to be laughing throughout, even on occasion on his own. All the songs were very catchy, and the back projections and a versatile desk, cupboard and chair portrayed a series of locations very effectively.

Act 2 featured mainly reprises, but also included the excellent ensemble number ‘The Game is Afoot’. A chase across London was well realised, and all too soon the amazing cast were taking their bows, and I was having to shuffle out of the theatre, scanning a Spotify code to access the Studio Cast Recording (featuring Eleventh Doctor companion, Arthur Darvill, as Holmes) to listen to on my journey back to Newbury Station.       

Very, very highly recommended. Who do I need to hassle to get a tour ? 

Rating:  (5/5)    

Links:  Sherlock Holmes and the Poison Wood — Metta Theatre

Studio Cast Recording    (featuring Arthur Darvill)

Sherlockian Sojourns - Special #10: 'Calling insistently for well-staged performance(s)' [VALL]

 Day One: ‘The Whitechapel Fiend’

The announcement of not one but two new Sherlockian plays in well-respected local theatres in Western England meant that a sojourn was planned. My initial destination was Bristol, where I had toured some filming locations less than a month before. My coach pulled into the Bristol stop bang on time, but I had a half hour wait for my connecting coach, to nearby Weston-Super-Mare. This also left on time, but due to heavy traffic and roadworks the one hour journey took double this, seriously ruining my tight timetable. I therefore decided to postpone my planned dash back to Bristol to visit Hengrove Park and the former site of Bristol Airport which appeared as the modern-day Airfield in ‘Sherlock: The Abominable Bride’.

Having grabbed some lunch from a nearby supermarket, a five minute walk brought me to Weston Museum, which was hosting ‘Adventures in Time and Space: 60 Years of Doctor Who Art’. This was a display of the original artwork from Target novelisations, other books, comics, BBC video covers, Big Finish audio plays, and even the portrait of Ace from a deleted scene in ‘Silver Nemesis’. I slowly wandered round the whole exhibition, taking photos of the Sixth Doctor related items, and the cabinets of merchandise.

 

   

 

Passing under ‘Pinwheel’ created by local graffiti artist, Banksy, for his dystopian theme park ‘Dismaland’ which was housed in the former site of the Tropicana waterpark on Weston’s promenade, I made my way to Clara’s Cottage, which transported me back to the early 1900s, showing what houses in Weston were like. A large display of dolls representing all English Kings and Queens brought back nostalgic memories of my maternal grandmother who collected similar dolls, and took me to Weston on multiple occasions as a young boy.

  

  

Having browsed the other galleries, and looked in the gift shop, which was not offering items I did not already have or could buy closer to home, save a ‘Knit Your Own Doctor Who Scarf’ kit, I made my way out of the museum and walked the five minutes to the promenade and Weston beach. As in my youth, the tide was a very long way out, but I sat on a bench wallowing in nostalgia.

It was then a twenty minute walk back to Weston Station, where I bought a ticket back to Bristol Temple Meads, staying on the same train using my pre-bought ticket to Swindon. Arriving half-an-hour earlier than planned, I browsed some of the local shops, before catching the #51 bus to Cirencester. This was also scheduled to take an hour, but luckily there were no traffic problems so I was dropped in the Market Square bang on time. My accommodation for the night was three minutes away, and having checked in, I made my way back to the Market Place, and along a main road, grabbing some food on the way, until I reached The Barn Theatre, where my evening’s entertainment was to be ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Whitechapel Fiend’, a comedy adventure in which Conan Doyle's fictional Victorian London collides with the 1888 Whitechapel Murders.

 

Having bought a programme, I settled into my seat a few rows back, to enjoy four actors constantly swapping parts, multiple running gaps, amazing set design (including two separate pits). I found myself laughing heartily in places, and even sussed out Jack’s identity.  (see here for a fuller review).

Returning to my accommodation, I watched a few videos on my iPad before turning in for the night.

 

 

Day Two: ‘The Poison Wood’

Retracing my steps of the previous evening, I found myself waiting for the #51 bus outside the Barn Theatre. This arrived on time, and I made my way back to Swindon. Walking up to the Station, I was in plenty of time for my booked train, which arrived a few minutes late, due to another train which was only for alighting passengers beating them into the platform. (The announcements not to board the train seemed to be being ignored by almost everyone).

A fifteen minute journey brought me to Dicot Parkway (visited in a previous Sojourn). Hurrying to the bus stop outside the station, it looked like my planned bus #X34 was due to arrive on time. However, after about a minute the display changed to indicate that the next bus was only going part of the route (all #X34’s go to a nearby supermarket, but only one an hour goes all the way to Newbury). The Newbury service was then advertised as fifteen minutes away for fifteen minutes. However, finally the service arrived, and I spent the entire journey worrying that I would miss my connection at the other end. However, the driver managed to make up time en-route and I arrived five minutes before the due date of my next bus. A ten minute journey on the #4 bus brought me to the outskirts of Bagnor, and a twenty minute walk brought me to the picturesque Watermill Theatre.

I was early, so decided to have a meal in the bar area. The Watermill also has a highly-regarded restaurant, but this needed to be pre-booked and I was concerned that I would not be able to get there by the required time. A ham-and-cheese Panini and a bucketful of chips (with tomato sauce and mayonnaise dips) very much hit the spot, and just as I was finishing staff members came round selling programmes, and as I had pre-booked one, handed it over for me to read as I finished my meal.

Making my way to the theatre itself, I was very amused by a ‘lost’ poster on one of the wooden supports, and also a display of SH related books from a local bookshop. Taking my seat towards the back of the Circle, I settled in for ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Poison Wood’, a musical that I had originally seen in a cutdown form at London’s The Other Palace as part of MTFest 2023 in February 2023, with the same actors playing Lestrade and Moriarty. It turned out that I had booked for the Relaxed Performance which also featured surtitles. However, by sitting up in my seat I could use the venue’s roof to obscure these as I was finding them distracting. The music was amazing, the actors wonderful and the script very funny. (see here for fuller review)

  

Following the final bows, I realised that I could just catch a bus back into Newbury (the next one not being for two hours after that), so hurried back to the required stop, twenty-five minutes walk away. Back in central Newbury, I wasted time in shops, before catching a late-running train back to London Paddington, from where I slowly made my way home, feeling very tired. It certainly had been a dramatic couple of days.