The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Musical, Ambassadors Theatre Review
John Dalgleish and Clare Foster. Photo by Marc Brenner
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
This new British musical is based on the 1922 short story by F Scott Fitzgerald. The very curious tale of a man who ages in reverse was adapted into a film in 2008 and after seven years of development, this stage version has now arrived in London’s West End, following a sell-out run last year at Southwark Playhouse.
Writers Jethro Compton (book and lyrics) and Darren Clark (music and lyrics) have moved the bulk of the action from 19th Century America to the North coast of Cornwall, an area full of folklore and stories, and so a perfect setting for this extraordinary tale. Compton is also the show’s Director and Stage Designer – creating a set that uses wood, rope and netting combined with atmospheric lighting design from Zoe Spurr to create and draw us into this small fishing community. The set incorporates items salvaged from the North Cornwall coast by the Cleaner Seas Project adding an extra level of authenticity as well as helping our coastal environment. The multiple levels of the set allow for the cast to seemingly travel – through distance and time – whilst at the same time providing a recognisable home base for Benjamin’s story.
The theme of time is, understandably, key to the story and there are references throughout the beautifully written words and lyrics. Time is referred to directly as characters mark its passing by noting the changing dates, whether it’s letting us know what year we’re in or charting the passage of time in days, hours and minutes. It’s a device that has also been used very effectively in shows like Hamilton and Come from Away and feels particularly appropriate for this one. Time is also seen to be measured through the phases of the moon and the ebb and flow of the tides, so integral to the life and livelihoods of the community at the heart of the story
This narration is provided by the ensemble cast, playing “Strangers”, giving a voice to the elements that are so vital to life (and death) in this coastal community. They also take on the roles of supporting characters, with their little foibles and personal stories developed enough to make them engaging individuals but without being distracting. A warring couple is dreaming of divorce, a drunken sea captain and a tea shop owner who spices up her pots of Lady Grey with gin. Under Compton’s direction, the cast bring these characters to life without any need for costume changes, exaggerating their eccentricities without becoming caricatures.
The show runs with an excellent pace, never feeling rushed, and we are around half an hour into the first act before there is a suitable break for the audience to applaud. This allows the early scenes that explain the circumstances of Benjamin’s birth to flow smoothly, establishing key characters and the curious plot. Chi-San Howard’s choreography sees this talented cast of actor musicians whirl around the stage in seemingly spontaneous movement, it’s a company of quadruple threats, able to act, sing, dance and play multiple instruments – often at the same time!
Darren Clark’s score combines rousing folk songs, sea shanties and soulful ballads – rather than having characters rather unnaturally move from dialogue to breaking into song to develop a love story, Clark has his protagonists find each other through sharing folk songs, singing of the moon and the sea to each other in a way that feels very natural. A particularly poignant moment comes when Benjamin’s mother, beautifully performed by Philippa Hogg, sings what appears to be a lullaby to her 78 year old baby, a gorgeous melody that then takes a heartbreaking twist. The cast offer stunning harmonies, singing acapella until the instruments kick in and the music reaches a powerful crescendo to bring to mind the echo of crashing waves on the shoreline.
The cast of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Musical. Photo by Marc Brenner
Although this is very much an ensemble piece, with no weak link in its cast, the performances from John Dalgleish as Benjamin Button and Clare Foster as his one true love Elowen Keene are absolutely phenomenal. Both skillfully show the passage of time for their characters with just a change in posture, expression or tone. Dalgleish gives Benjamin a childlike innocence and optimism, longing to live a normal life and marvelling at the world and what it has to offer. He has fantastic chemistry with Foster, who goes from a rather goofy exuberance as the beautiful girl next door, to becoming a true soulmate and giving Benjamin the family and sense of home that he craves. Their courtship is charming, full of heart and even though you suspect it might not end well given their age difference (!), everybody is rooting for them and they feel like a perfect match, despite their most curious circumstances.
As the story unfolds, we follow Benjamin through the very normal highs and lows of life, with adventures, celebration, challenges and tragedy. And as we enter the final chapters of Benjamin’s life, although there are some heartbreaking moments, this story is so well written that despite everything that has happened, we’re left with a life-affirming feeling of hope. Benjamin’s one desire was to be able to live his little life and watching him do that is time very well spent.
Borrowing from Benjamin and Elowen’s “love language” … to say that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a truly beautiful piece of theatre that deserves a long West End run is a FACT. And my THOUGHT is that I really hope this happens for this wonderful show and its incredible cast and creatives.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is playing at the Ambassadors Theatre, currently booking until 15th February 2025. Find out more and book here.
★★★★★
