NEW OUTINGS FOR YOUR GROUPS

Why Am I So Single.  Danny Kaan

The two new shows this week are both looking at platonic friendships. The big new musical at the Garrick Theatre, London is WHY AM I SO SINGLE? **** (booking until 13 February 2025). Looking at the way dating is conducted mainly through dating apps, the show is very much directed to a young adult audience.

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, directed by Lucy Moss, this is the team who gave us SIX. Starring Jo Foster as Oliver and Leesa Tulley as Nancy, the leads are young Besties who are concerned that although very attractive they are still single. With names connected to the musical Oliver there are lots of references to that musical as well as others throughout the show.

Both have super voices and are most charismatic actors. Wittily written, with lively direction by Moss, we see various scenarios played out with catchy songs and a lively gifted young cast who play everything from friends of the couple to inanimate household objects around the stage. Lots of gay references and littered with the F word this is one definitely aimed at the younger generation.

Then we have THE REAL ONES**** at the Bush Theatre in West London (until 19 October2024). Here we find best friends Zaid (Nathaniel Curtis) and Neelam (Marianne Haque), both British Pakistani. The play charts the couples’ interaction from the age of 19 to 36. Both dream of being playwrights and during their relationship, we see how their ambitions are fulfilled or diverted. The couple are very close and vow to be together always in spite of Neelam being straight and Zaid gay. While Zaid forms a relationship with Jeremy (Anthony Howell), an older playwright who is also Zaid’s lecturer, Neelam falls in love with Demi (Nnabiko Ejimofor), a British Nigerian.

Zaid is afraid to tell his Muslim parents that he is gay and keeps Jeremy away from them. He is concerned about how they will take his sexuality and unhappy that he is unable to tell them about his real life. Neelam’s parents are not happy that she is marrying a non-Muslim.

Directed sensitively by Anthony Simpson-Pike, the play manages to integrate intelligent conversation about race and culture and putting on play to please a white audience. Running at just 1 hour 45 minutes, the episodic nature of the production leaves little time to delve deeply into the ideas presented. It is, however, a most interesting play and well worth taking groups to see.

Carlie Newman GTO