★★★★★
The Pickled Crab is the place to be this Winter/Spring in London’s Theatreland, as ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button the Musical’ continues performances at the Ambassadors Theatre to rave reviews. Loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story of the same name, the musical is set in 1900s Cornwall and tells the tale of a character who ages in reverse and is born looking like an old man. This peculiar musical features a host of vibrant characters who each occupy residences in the local village, but it is the love story between Benjamin Button and barmaid Elowen which tugs at the heartstrings. You don’t need to have seen the film to appreciate this Cornish gem of a musical, with a toe-tapping folk score and tremendous actor-musician performances. It has been on a long journey to the West End, but its resounding success is proof of how much allowing audiences and creative teams to feedback during the production’s development really works.
It’s all just a matter of time!
The focus of the musical is time and it is extremely clever how the creatives have woven this into the book, both through spoken word and lyrics. From the constant reminders of how many hours, minutes and seconds have passed in between events to the song ‘Matter of Time’, you can’t help but feel as if this musical has an underlying theme of seize the moment. Benjamin’s story is one of learning to enjoy life, even if your time on earth follows a different path to your peers. It’s about appreciating the little milestones, focusing on the people you love and not hiding away from the challenges faced. Everyone can learn something from this unlikely tale, which sees Benjamin go on an adventure like no other.
Memorable cast performances
For me, the relationship between the title character and Elowen is the most endearing romantic connection in recent musical theatre. They are played beautifully by John Dagleish and Clare Foster, who capture the innocence of the characters and their blossoming romance. It’s sweet, natural and the kind of on-stage relationship that everybody would champion, with its raw and realistic moments. The audience goes on an emotional journey, watching the lives of the pair develop and it is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. There are many moments when you will likely need a tissue, so prepare for a tearjerker!
Strength in its score
The folk sound makes this musical really stand out, with Darren Clark and Jethro Compton’s songs captivating hearts from the minute the first number begins. It is brought to life by a cast of extremely talented actor-musicians and the arrangements are exquisite. The lyrics also add so much intrigue to the storytelling, telling the audience about the villagers and their antics in such a memorable way. Hopefully there will be a cast recording released soon as these songs deserve a life beyond the Ambassadors Theatre.
A must-see musical in London!
This wonderful show is an absolute triumph and it will make you laugh, cry and fall in love with British musical theatre. I really hope ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ stays in London for a long time. It has already been extended until June and long may it continue to run at the West Street venue. Tickets to the show are available via all major ticket sellers.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
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