Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre Review
Written by Emily for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
Why Am I So Single? is the hotly anticipated new musical from Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the writers of the smash hit, Six. Some might say this new venture has much to live up to, and it delivers overall. It’s light-hearted and fun with high energy performances and some entertaining musical numbers.
The plot follows two best friends in their 20s, Oliver and Nancy, as they navigate the modern dating world and their lack of success in this area. Jo Foster (Oliver) and Leesa Tulley (Nancy) lead the show with enthusiasm and are convincing as two Gen Zedders experiencing love, loss and friendship. They are joined by a talented ensemble, who play various supporting characters, as well as showcasing excellent dance abilities. They also act as various household items in Oliver’s flat throughout the show. The creatives note that this is done to “create a sense that Nancy and Oliver’s friendship is underpinned by a wider network of omnipresent friendship and love”. Whilst this is a sweet idea, I found that the concept mainly added humour to the show and not much more than that.
The songs are catchy and there are definitely some that will get stuck in your head. The hilarious ‘Interlude in B Minor’ at the end of Act 1 is a prime example. The last thing you expect to hear in a musical about relationships and dating is a song about a bee being stuck in a flat, but it works! Generally, there are traditional elements of musical theatre in the songs, combined with a more contemporary feel that writer Toby Marlow explains as being “more connected to these characters who are in their twenties”. There are also some contrasting ballad numbers which showcase the vocal talents of the company, particularly Leesa Tulley who demonstrates a great vocal range and convincing emotion.
The show is generally pacy thanks to the performances and high energy musical numbers. However, it perhaps could have concluded a bit quicker and would even have worked without an interval. I did find that the second act lacked the pace of the first, particularly towards the end.
In a time where we singletons can very much feel the pressure associated with “finding the one”, Why Am I So Single? is a celebration of platonic love and friendship. Romantic love certainly isn’t the be-all and end all and this show illustrates that. It remains to be seen whether it ends up being the hit that Six has turned out to be, but go and watch it for some fun, catchy tunes and strong performances.
Currently booking at Garrick Theatre until 13 February 2024. Grab yourself a ticket from London Box Office.
★ ★ ★
