Album Review: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (Original West End Cast Recording)

Review by Daz Gale

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Over the last few years, the world has fallen in love with the stage musical adaptation of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. After runs at Southwark Playhouse in 2019 and 2023, a West End transfer seemed inevitable and, sure enough, Benjamin rolled into the Ambassador’s Theatre last October, where it has enjoyed a successful run ever since, winning a handful of Olivier Awards along the way. One thing its legion of adoring fans have been starving for is a cast recording of that breathtaking show - it was only a matter of time and it has now arrived, but would it manage to capture the magic of seeing it on stage?

If you are unaware of the story, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button was originally a short story published in 1922 and was adapted into a movie starring Brad Pitt in 2008. On a side note, this has been a show I have recommended to everyone I’ve come into contact with since it opened in the West End and have been met by the response “But I didn’t like the movie” numerous times, so let me just clarify, this is nothing to do with the movie and your enjoyment of this musical will not depend on that very different interpretation of the story. As for the story, it charts Benjamin Button’s life through the twentieth Century, only it is a life that is lived backwards with Benjamin born as an old man, getting younger with age.

There are many aspects that make The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button such a captivating watch, as I addressed in my review - the staging, the writing, the direction, the cast - it’s pretty perfect on every level. However, one element that makes it incredibly special is its remarkable music from Darren Clark and lyrics from Clark and Jethro Compton, so to be able to listen to these beautiful songs at leisure was a wish for every fan of this show.

Thankfully, the cast recording is every bit as glorious as the show itself. Recorded live on stage in its West End home, this is a beautiful capture of the musical that manages to transport you back to The Pickled Crab. Not every cast recording works out of context but this is not a problem for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, using much of the dialogue in the musical numbers to bring the story to life. Where watching the musical requires some imagination, listening to the cast recording is much the same - closing your eyes and losing yourself to the music transports you there, recreating that world effortlessly.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button boasts a cast of 14 actor-musicians performing 30 instruments on stage and they have all been immortalised on this cast recording, with the original West End cast members led by John Dagleish and Clare Foster all having their talents immortalised on this impeccable recording. Highlights among the album are the gorgeous ‘A Little Life’, the rousing ‘When E’re She Looked At Me’ and the beautiful ‘The Kraken’s Lullaby’ - the songs work just as well standing on their own as they do as part of an ensemble piece, listening to the album in its entirety

I have said before what an incredibly special musical The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is and this cast recording more than does it justice. Perfectly exemplifying what makes it such a magical watch (and listen), I would recommend anyone who has sat on the fence about seeing a musical that is distinctly different from all of its West End counterparts (and refreshingly so) to give this a listen and prepare to fall in love.

As cast recordings go, I can’t think of a single negative thing to say about this one. It really is the perfect accompaniment to the show and a beautiful way for the world to fall in love with The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button as London audiences have over the last few years. Given its success, it's only a matter of time before this musical follows in the footsteps of Benjamin himself and travels the world, so get yourself a head start and immerse yourself in his magical world. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button really does get better with age, as does this album that gets better with every listen.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is available to stream everywhere now, with a physical release on CD on 20th June. https://w.lnk.to/tccbbutton