Why Am I So Single? ★★★★★ Garrick Theatre | Aug 27, 2024 - Feb 13, 2025


If you're totally tired of reworked films becoming musicals and tribute shows, this may be the one for you. Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss who wrote the hip historical hit show, SIX, which could have been subtitled "Why Am I So Married?" have created a new musical that deals with a more common contemporary question. Why Am I So Single? which frequently and hilariously references Lionel Bart's Oliver! is a very smart piece that mirrors the experience of two millennials on the relationship market. Best friends from uni, Oliver and Nancy, are both looking for "the one," but they are thrown back on each other's company as they try to cope with the minefield of modern dating. Simultaneously, the pair are seeking subject matter for their next big, fancy musical. The meta trope which is so often used as simply a superfluous pseudointellectual flourish actually has some thematic relevance in this show. As a narrative that is actually about self-reflection, the self-referencing meta moments cleverly extend that concept, reinforcing the self-consciousness that informs the piece. However, when all of the inward looking borders on self-indulgence, the two principals are smart enough to call out each other, and the show uses the meta device to create some sharp humour and restore perspective. The score covers a wide variety of genres from Oliver's funny and touching torch song to the catchy "Disco Ball" which ironically mirrors their broken self-reflective process. It is certainly nice to have a show where the sound engineering works so that the pithy lyrics are intelligible, and we loved Moi Tran's human set. As Oliver, Jo Foster displays an extraordinary energy and range, bringing a strong voice and an appealing authenticity to the role, while Leesa Tulley manages to hold her own, making Nancy an equally compelling character. Her rendition of "8 Dates" is great fun and "Just In Case" is a definite showstopper. All of the supporting cast bring their A game to the show, and Lucy Moss proves to be a deft director. Why Am I So Single? is a refreshingly intelligent addition to the West End's theatrical repertoire.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Danny Kaan

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