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A joyful celebration of friendship, queer identity and the perils of dating life in a self-aware and clever musical that’ll have you singing well into the next day.Summary
Rating
Good
Last summer I headed to Sadler’s Wells to watch a work-in-progress performance of the new show from the writers of Six. There’s a healthy dose of intrigue, excitement and enthusiasm when creatives who’ve had previous success announce their next project, particularly the ‘difficult second show’. The audience on that particular night matched the energy here in the Garrick as Why Am I So Single? made its West End debut. I just hoped that they’d kept the magic of that workshop performance, and perhaps tightened up a few corners too.
If you’re expecting history, think again: this is vastly different. The show portrays the lives of its writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (as characters Oliver and Nancy), trying to come up with their next hit show after Six. There’s plenty of self-awareness, breaking the fourth wall and snide digs at fellow West End shows, which does become a little bitter at times. There are also beautiful tender moments of storytelling, exploring the friendship relationship between Oliver, who is non-binary, and Nancy, who is female (Marlow and Moss’ own middle names, that just happen to match characters in their favourite musical).
The premise is quite literal, and for anyone who’s ever pondered why they’re single (presumably most of us at some point) there will be moments that tickle you. There are jokes about expectations of romance growing up watching Friends, which leads into very funny comic number ‘I Got Off The Plane’; there are hilarious depictions of the so-called ‘Meet Market’ and there is a particularly ingenious tap dancing routine in a trendy brunch spot. It’s funny, and often clever, yet at its core the plot feels weak. But perhaps this is the point, as they say in the programme notes, “they wanted to write a musical with an almost ‘boringly normal’ setting”.
The musical numbers come thick and fast, and there are some real gems in the soundtrack. ‘Disco Ball’ is a particular highlight, starting as a disco diva anthem, and turning into a heartbreaking tale of the struggles of Oliver and their queer identity. The titular song is catchy, and keeps returning to my mind the following day, a sure fire sign of a hit. But there’s also a frankly bizarre and surely budget busting song about a bee.
The entire cast look like they’re having the time of their lives. Jo Foster (Oliver) and Leesa Tulley (Nancy) lead them with warmth, buckets of talent and pure joy. Their friendship on stage is instantly believable, which just adds to the serotonin boost this show will give you. You’ll also have a healthy chunk of joy from the often hilarious use of the cast as props. Someone is a fridge, another a house plant, there are even two people running around as curtains. And, if you’re a musicals fan there are Easter eggs dotted throughout the show.
This is fun, there’s no denying that, but it does feel long at just over 2 1/2 hours. There are moments of sheer unadulterated joy throughout, as well as emotional punches. But with multiple references to the same joke, and a few songs that perhaps are a little overindulgent, it could be tighter. It’s hard not to be overly critical of a writer’s next big hit, and it may not be fair to judge this show this way. But as a West End show at West End prices, it feels reasonable to do so. Having said that, I’d love to curl up on the sofa with Oliver and Nancy, with that Sainsbury’s Prosecco they speak so highly of, and wonder yet again if she did, in fact, get off that plane.
Written by: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
Directed by: Lucy Moss
Choreography and Co-Direction by: Ellen Kane
Orchestration, vocal arranging and musical supervision by: Joe Beighton
Why Am I So Single plays at Garrick Theatre, currently with tickets available through to 13th February 2025. Further information can be found on the show’s official website here.
