50 First Dates: The Musical ★★★★ The Other Palace | 14 Sep - Nov 16, 2025


Henry is a travel blogger who avoids emotional commitment, always seeking new adventures in exotic places. Lucy, by contrast, is a small-town girl devoted to friends and family in her hometown of Key Largo. There’s little doubt about where the story is going, but the twist in this otherwise standard romcom setup is that Lucy suffers short-term memory loss from a car accident; every day she wakes up believing it is the same day. Will Henry be willing to give up his nomadic lifestyle for Lucy? Can he cope with her condition? Can she commit to someone she must meet anew every morning? Even if you can predict the answers, you’ll likely enjoy this updated musical version of the 2004 film. David Rossmer and Steven Rosen’s production perfectly satisfies the appetite for old-fashioned escapist entertainment. The score is thoroughly enjoyable, with hummable, unchallenging melodies and touching, accessible lyrics. Song titles such as “Coffee, Friends and Happy Endings,” “Happy Sunday,” and “Perfect Day” exemplify the feel-good tone. The cast is excellent. Josh St. Clair is endearing as the enamored Henry, and Georgina Castle is wonderfully winsome as the memory-challenged Lucy. Both bring lovely voices to their roles, and their duet “First Kiss” should melt the hardest heart. Chad Saint Louis stands out as Sandy, the humorous waiter who, like Henry and Lucy, learns a lesson about compromise and finding home. The production numbers are lively, well executed, and feature classic Broadway-style dancing. This is a musical in the Jerry Herman rather than the Stephen Sondheim tradition, offering a comforting, almost 1950s version of America. It's a pleasant refuge from current realities. 50 First Dates: The Musical is a pleasingly polished production that overflows with charm and optimism.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Pamela Raith

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 12 Palace St, London SW1E 5JA, UK

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