Why am I So Single?
By Samuel
The latest creation from Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss following the huge global success of Six. They have joined forces once again to pen a musical about the trials and tribulations of being single and self discovery.
Loosely based on the dynamic duo trying to write a follow up big enough for the West End and a show that will match their previous success. The show opens with an animated explosion of fun. The lead characters Nancy (Leesa Tulley) and Oliver (Jo foster) break down the fourth wall to let you in to their lives. They win the audience over from the very beginning as Nancy turns up at Oliver’s front door heartbroken after a nightmare date with a guy who works at the same company as her ex. Beautifully underscored as they pop the prosecco and curl up on the sofa drinking, reminiscing and trying to work out why they are both so god damn single.
Jo Foster and Leesa Tulley make the perfect stagiest double act as they glide us through the story; you can tell they are as close on stage as they are off. Jo Foster was born to play Oliver with all the wit and charm of the north, lots of one liners and vulnerability. Act II Disco ball is an incredible show stopping number with such an important message, the song keeps building and building and is perfectly executed by Foster. It is amazing to see this amount of representation on the West End. The cast will definitely inspire future generations. Leesa Tulley’s character Nancy is the perfect counter balance to Oliver, together they just work and their infectious personalities just bounce off each other and around the stage. ‘Just incase’ might simply steal the show, Tulley’s power house vocals are simply off the scale. You could literally hear a pin drop in the auditorium as she pulls at every heart string. Noah Thomas makes a few cameos as cheeky best friend Artie, happily coupled up and not afraid to rub it in their faces and say it how it is. Thomas wows us with great tap musical theatre number ‘C U Never.’
Ellen Kane’s Choreography is edgy, bringing you an upbeat modern and current dance style with some tap thrown in for good measure. A special shout out to the entire cast as the ensemble, jumping in and out of roles and casually transforming in to the set, they are never really off the stage. Great direction by the writer Lucy Moss, Lucy proves she is multi talented and transforms her vision on to the Garrick Theatre stage. Let’s face it everyone has a bad date story and it is the great premise for a musical but the show doesn’t really get gritty till the end and to keep the audience engaged throughout, I think this needs to be a lot sooner. With the characters energy starting at such a high level it struggles to build so it seems to stay on that one level. I think the show could do with a little trim to keep the message strong and energy high, that being said it’s a great night of fun.
Why am I so Single is hip and happening with hilariously relatable sketches and thought-provoking fun. With Musical Theatre references for days it’s the stagiest thing I have seen in a long while. The cheesy, camp, explosion is thoroughly entertaining.
I challenge you to find a cooler Musical in the west end.
{Press Invite]
Sounds and Stage
