★★★★★
Following a smash hit, sell-out run at London’s Kiln Theatre, Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift are walkin’ the walk from Kilburn all the way down to Piccadilly Circus as Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) opens at the West End’s Criterion Theatre.
And I’m right behind them!
Having seen the musical twice during its first run, I was more than eager to jump at the chance to watch these two phenomenal actors navigate New York, life, love, and everything in between, once again.
However, that’s not to say I wasn’t a little nervous. The Kiln Theatre’s charm comes from its intimate staging, and I was anxious Two Strangers wouldn’t retain this charisma when transferring to the bigger stages of the West End. As the curtain went up, I was quickly proven wrong. The grandness of The Criterion Theatre only serves to elevate and tighten the musical.
First staged at the Royal and Derngate in Northampton and the New Wolsey in Ipswich in 2019, Two Strangers originally went by the name of The Season. It wasn’t until the show was being reviewed for its run at the Kiln Theatre in 2023 that co-producer Tim Johanson suggested a change in name, with Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) being the chosen one due to it perfectly describing the plot. Without spoiling too much, Two Strangers follows Dougal, who arrives from England to the Big Apple for his father’s wedding. His father who he has never met. That’s when he meets Robin, the sister of the bride, and they’re thrown together for 36 hours in New York. It’s cliché, it’s cute, it’s hilarious.
While the musical leads with a chunky title, the dialogue is anything but. Written by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, their first ever musical, the script is witty and fun, with a perfect balance between hilarious one-liners and heartfelt, emotional beats. Barne and Buchan juxtapose the freedom of being in your 20s, casually swiping on Tinder in the back of a taxi with your friends with the pressures of being happy and the need to have accomplished something, making the musical astoundingly relatable for those 20-somethings in the audience.
Acclaim must also be given to Soutra Gilmour’s set. While simple, in that it’s made up of silver suitcases stacked on top of each other, it’s effective in its ability to transform into the city of New York, with the suitcases opening throughout the show to reveal hidden bars, fridges, radios and more. The set successfully transports viewers away from London and onto the streets of Manhattan. The set is also a revolve, ensuring that the actors are constantly on the move, a perfect imitation of New York’s hustle and bustle.
Two Strangers’ musical numbers are catchy, with an even mix of ballads and up-beat hits. While the opening song ‘New York!’ is, without a doubt, the stand-out track, my favourite is ‘Be Happy’. Perfectly encapsulating the messiness of being in your twenties, the pressure to be doing something that you enjoy, and barely having enough money to get by in a big city was almost too relatable. My only grievance would be that while every song, in the moment, is undoubtedly fantastic, they are not entirely memorable. It’s a good job they recorded that EP!
The most praise, however, goes to the performances from our leading actors. A two-man cast brings a huge amount of pressure, but Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift do not buckle. A fan of Tutty’s since he played the titular role in the original West End cast Dear Evan Hansen, he continues to astonish with his acting talent. Tutty expertly brings to life the lovable, naive, and upbeat golden retriever energy of Dougal, charming his way into viewers’ hearts. If I dare to admit it, I found myself kicking my legs and giggling like a school girl watching him.
Similarly, Dujonna Gift, probably most recognisable for her role in Hamilton, left me speechless. A much more serious role in comparison to Tutty’s, Gift’s vocals during the ballads, specifically in ‘This Year’, left chills down my spine, while her sarcasm had me laughing out loud. Put these two together and the chemistry is electric.
Dougal and Robin have absolutely nothing in common. The plot suggests that they shouldn’t really (or legally) get together, and yet, through the phenomenal performances on both sides, you’re rooting for them. I wanted Robin and Dougal to be happy and to get everything they want out of life, even if that is just a trip up the Rockefeller or a visit to Central Park.
While Two Strangers is near perfect, my only gripe lands with the plot. It’s cheesy, and it has all the stereotypes of a classic American rom-com, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that – in fact, I ate that up. It’s the family connection between Dougal and Robin that threatens to become unrealistic, silly and, to put it plainly, weird.
Equally, while the dialogue allows for a fast pace, once you hit the interval, viewers know that this is a musical that isn’t going anywhere and doesn’t have a specific end in mind. It’s more about being along for the ride, much in the same way Dougal is along for the adventure in New York.
Two Strangers will make you nostalgic for the American rom-com classics. It’s funny, it’s heartfelt and it’s relatable. A must-watch for those seeking a sentimental comedy.
Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) is currently running at the Criterion Theatre until July 14.
Photo: ©Tristram Kenton
JADAR 