50 First Dates: The Musical review – sunny ensemble serve up breezy romcom

The Other Palace, LondonGeorgina Castle and Josh St Clair make a likable couple who endlessly replay their first meeting but this adaptation needs more emotional punchPerhaps it’s unfair to compare this new musical with the incomparable Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Both shows have a striking elevator pitch and consider how we make the most of the time available to us. Benjamin finds – and holds on to – love as he ages backwards whereas in 50 First Dates, based on the Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler romcom, Lucy and Henry endlessly replay their first encounter. She has short-term memory loss from an accident so wakes each morning with no recollection of the previous day; he ventures to sustain their relationship regardless.But while the Curious Case musical dug deep into the mysteries of time, 50 First Dates is more confined by its concept and never packs enough emotional punch. That’s partly because the book by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen can be bland and their songs breezily enjoyable, without a heart-wrenching number that does justice to the pain at the story’s centre. Nevertheless, there are two genial leads with fine voices: Georgina Castle lights up the stage as always and Josh St Clair convincingly handles Henry’s switch from obnoxious playboy to caring partner. Continue reading...

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