Garrick Theatre, London – until 13 February 2025
Reviewed by Emily Smith
5*****
From the writers of the hugely successful musical, SIX, comes the brand new ‘big, fancy’ musical Why Am I So Single? which has burst onto London’s West End, complete with an impressive pink sparkly sign.
Without spoilers, this is a musical about writing a musical. Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss take the audience on a journey of their self-discovery by revisiting their own dating histories to try and find out why they are so single. While this, as a plot, doesn’t sound like much, somehow Marlow and Moss have managed to make an entire musical out of this concept, and there’s plenty of musical numbers, jokes and cut-scenes to keep the audience entertained throughout! There is a mixture of narration show-tune flashbacks, and audience interaction as the fourth wall is broken and rebuilt throughout. I really enjoyed this, especially because it is so different to other shows.
The musical numbers in this show are very well-written and apt, with plenty of pop culture references. The catchy number 8 Dates is an early audience favourite and had me wishing I could dance with the cast, rather than just bop along in my seat. The late 90s and 00s references brought plenty of nostalgia, with these influences being carefully crafted into the songs themselves, with nods to artists such as Blink 182, Shakira and Flo Rida. I also couldn’t write this review without also mentioning the fantastic number, Interlude in B minor, but you’ll have to see the show to find out why! There were also plenty of references to other musicals, from the obvious Oliver! to references to Les Misérables, Wicked and of course SIX – the Musical. I almost saw it as a challenge to try to spot them all, which I am sure will please fellow musical theatre lovers!
Jo Foster was absolutely brilliant as Oliver – they are a star! Jo has a fantastic vocal range, bringing great diversity to the role and getting plenty of laughs from the audience. That being said, Jo also delivered an emotionally-charged performance in their standout number, Disco Ball. Leesa Tulley was also a fantastic leading lady in the role of Nancy. For me, some of the songs had some hesitant, or slower beginnings, but I was pleasantly surprised each time at how they built into the type of musical numbers that we all love. This was particularly true of Leesa’s number Just In Case, where it was clear to see her confidence building throughout the song, to the point that by the end the audience were mesmerized and captivated by her incredible vocals. Noah Thomas (Artie) was also fantastic, particularly when leading the catchy number, C U Never. The entire ensemble were also fantastic – delivering flawless choreography and vocals.
The set design (by Moi Tran) is relatively simple, formed of freestanding walls with cut-out windows, a sofa and coffee table, moveable doorways, and with the band on stage on an upper level. Because of this, the use of the ensemble as (usually) inanimate household objects and furniture such as fridges, bins, coat stands, and footstools was very clever and brought its own comedic value to the show, and it helps that these costumes were very cleverly designed.
I think it is important to acknowledge that I most definitely fit into this show’s ‘target audience’ – born in the 90s, with experience of online dating, meaning the plentiful pop culture references and humour brought to online dating experiences were relatable. While I am sure older and younger audiences alike would still appreciate the show, it may be said that some of the references or relatability would be lost. Despite this, the underlying story of platonic love and self-exploration feel incredibly genuine and you can’t help but fall in love with these two friends.
This feel-good show had us laughing throughout – at the jokes, clever plays on words, and innuendo – and it is complete with catchy show tunes and a standout cast. For anyone who has grown up in the 90s and 00s, this is a must-see!