Review by Daz Gale
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The West End just got a bit more sparkly as a big, fancy musical has opened at the Garrick theatre – quite literally as the big, pink glittery writing outside the theatre will attest (never a bad thing in my eyes). That musical is Why Am I So Single?, the long-awaited follow-up from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. With all eyes on them to see what they do next, would this show be able to follow in the footsteps of that long-reigning mega-hit and be just as engaging?
Having been in the works for a few years, Why Am I So Single? enjoyed a well-received public workshop last year and now makes its fully staged debut. Inspired by its creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, it focuses on the relationship between best friends Oliver and Nancy as they settle down for the evening to look into the probing question of why they are so single and hopefully come up with a response. This relatively normal conversation leads to big and unexpected results as they merge fantasy and reality in a bid to find the answer.
There is a lot to love about Why Am I So Single? Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss have discovered a formula that works for them and one that has attracted a large, global fan base. While this musical still feels very much like them, with moments that feel reminiscent of their other show, it attempts to push the boundaries slightly and move them into the next part of their careers to prove they are more than just a one-trick pony. The results prove frustratingly inconsistent with varying elements failing to marry up. At its best, Why Am I So Single? borders on the brilliant, but is somewhat let down by the significantly weaker elements in the production.
Why Am I So Single? shines with its creative elements, with Ellen Kane’s big and brash choreography used to full effect, ensuring all of the biggest musical numbers are loud, eye-catching and incredibly satisfying to watch, particularly in the creative 'C U Never' sequence, complete with tap-dancing. Kane’s co-direction with writer Lucy Moss ensures a show that always has one eye winking to the audience and never strays away from the fun factor. Moi Tran’s set design is sublimely ridiculous with cast members taking on the roles of props and furniture including fridges, coat racks and plants. It may well be the campest thing I have ever seen but its tongue-in-cheek nature always raised a smile. One great detail in the set design is in the décor itself with posters and props more than just background fodder for the characters with many being referenced throughout the show itself. Why Am I So Single? is a show rooted in pop culture and the inspired use of design elements here furthers this fabulously.
Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss know how to craft a good song, with pretty much all of the musical numbers in Six taking on a life of their own. This tradition continues in Why Am I So Single? with some addictive songs. The title track and opening number ‘Why Am I So Single?’ sets the tone perfectly, with ‘8 Dates’ destined to become a fan favourite. At times, it does feel they have strayed too closely over what could give them their viral moment, thinking of the TikTok generation and this has meant the quality suffers in places with a real inconsistency among some musical numbers. With its powerful message and incredible lead performance, huge number ‘Disco Ball’ should be an absolute showstopper but is let down by a weak chorus that never sees it quite reach its full potential. An entire song talking about Ross and Rachel in Friends called ‘I Got Off The Plane’ misses the mark and feels like something that should have been cut, with ‘Meet Market’ and ‘Clubs Glorious Clubs’ other numbers that don’t quite match the quality seen elsewhere.
Like ‘Heart of Stone’ in Six, Marlow and Moss can craft a great ballad and big number ‘Just In Case’ fits the bill perfectly, with Leesa Tulley’s vocals (more on her shortly) providing one of the strongest musical moments of the evening. MNEK lends his song writing talents for the addictively catchy ‘C U Never’ – where several songs in the show seem to be designed to create a viral moment, this is the one that achieves it with a brilliantly directed and choreographed sequence that is sure to be a favourite among fans and the moment most will remember after leaving the theatre.
Where Why Am I So Single? falls apart significantly is in the writing. Boldly and unashamedly about Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss themselves, to call it self-indulgent isn’t meant as an insult, but you do get the sense that they are too close to the story to realise the shortfalls in the writing and would have hugely benefited from having somebody join them to tighten the book to make it more coherent. As it stands, the narrative is quite a mess, jumping from one element to another and trying to cram too many things in to a show that is extremely busy. Some may say that it being rough around the edges adds to its charm, but to me it felt like a first draft of a show that needed tightened up before its big West End debut. Where more shows are debuting out of London before getting a West End transfer, I feel this is something that would have benefited Why Am I So Single? massively. I felt like there is a fantastic show in there that hasn’t quite realised its full potential yet, and it is a shame that this is the version that I was invited to review.
Full of musical theatre references, there is plenty on offer to raise a smile at, but the references do feel a tad overdone at times. There is an ongoing joke to the musical Oliver! with one scene full of so many puns, it had me pleading for More! Careful what you wish for though, as these were too frequent, losing the impact where less really would have been more. Why Am I So Single? also suffers from pacing problems with a first act that felt too slow and the overall sense that it could do well to trim some of the show. In this show the fourth wall isn’t so much broken as it is smashed to smithereens with musical theatre’s answer to Inception playing out as we watch the writers of the musical attempt to write the musical we are watching. Again, the constant fourth wall break feels overdone and grows tiresome with its overuse. Speaking of overuse, as someone who loves a good four-letter word, the constant swearing in the show felt uninspired and derivative, as if a good f*** every two or three words will make up for the shortcomings in the writing itself - it did not. The show also features what is undoubtedly the weirdest end to act one I’ve ever seen, ‘Interlude In B Minor’. To call it surreal would bee (typo intended) an understatement, but it just didn’t work for me and cemented the conflicted feelings I had with the first act for it to end with such an underwhelming sting.
The messages Why Am I So Single? try to convey is one of the strongest aspects of the show. Focusing on a platonic friendship rather than a romantic one is refreshing, as is the idea to talk of a queer friendship relationship without reducing one of them to nothing more than a caricature GBF. As this is based on its creators, the authenticity is clear to see and shows a true beauty when it is at its best. The messages of gender and identity are important ones that need to be seen by a mainstream audience in an age where there is still so much prejudice and a lack of understanding, and it is the moments where Oliver (Jo Foster) talks about who they are that bring the biggest heart to the musical. It’s not quite perfect in its execution, with the inconsistencies in ‘Disco Ball’ showing both the greatest aspects of the show and where it falls short simultaneously, but in a story where Oliver is on a journey to discover who they are, Why Am I So Single? seems to fittingly mirror them on this journey.
One aspect of Why Am I So Single? that can’t be faulted is its sensational cast. Centred around Jo Foster’s Oliver and Leesa Tulley’s Nancy, both deliver exceptional performances throughout. Jo Foster has the kind of star quality you can’t bottle with a remarkable stage presence that ensures all eyes are constantly on them. With cheek and charisma, they showcase phenomenal vocals and an authenticity in their characterisation that almost leaves you forgetting you are watching a character and not the person themselves. Their playful nature paves way for the more sensitive and serious themes that pop up as the show progresses. While these themes aren’t always explored to their full potential, Foster does the best with the cards they have been dealt to deliver a standout performance many will continue to talk about in the months to come.
Matching Foster’s star power is Leesa Tulley whose seemingly limitless vocal range is demonstrated on heart-wrenching ballad ‘Just In Case’. While at times, the weighting of the writing for the two main characters seems slightly more in favour of Oliver, Tulley’s nature ensures she is still a force to be reckoned with throughout as she delves into what makes Nancy tick and why she is so single. her back story is drip-fed to us throughout as opposed to the slightly more initially withdrawn Oliver, and this slow-burn nature allows Tulley to truly shine when she takes front and centre for her explosive moments. Most crucially, Foster and Tulley display a natural chemistry that allows them to bring the best out of each other, letting each take the spotlight when necessary before coming back to create a stunning double act.
The only other named character is Noah Thomas as Artie. While underused in this role, he gets one of the standout sequences with ‘C U Never’, also delivering some of the best one-liners of the evening with his irritated comments regarding his perfect relationship. A hard-working ensemble prove themselves as quadruple threats with their abilities to sing, dance, act and embody inanimate objects perfectly. With the strength of the choreography, they are given plenty to do in one of the greatest uses of an ensemble cast I have seen this year.
Why Am I So Single? is a puzzle of a show. I am a huge champion of theatre that can push boundaries and don’t feel there is a need to see 50 near identical shows so I’m always rooting for something big, bold and new. In that respect, this show is refreshing and undoubtedly has plenty of potential. Unfortunately, it is not quite there yet. The self-referencing nature of the show includes the immortal line “Have you seen the state of the West End lately? They’ll put on any old sh**”. While I wouldn’t quite go that far, Why Am I So Single? is far too messy in its current state, though certain elements of the production show what it could be at its best. I couldn’t help feeling like it needed more time in development before opening in the West End to get it to become the best possible version of itself – though I am also aware I am probably not quite the target demographic for a show like this (though that didn’t stop me relating to some moments).
Nevertheless, it is still a highly enjoyable show and, despite its flaws, I’m sure it is going to find a fan base that will fall in love with it just as they did with Six and ensure they each have more than just a single visit here. I may well be in the minority here, but to quote a repeated line from the title number, I just didn't get it.
Why Am I So Single? plays at the Garrick Theatre. Tickets available here.
Photos by Danny Kaan
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