Given the massive success of their first musical, Six, anticipation surrounds Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s new show. Their story of Henry VIII’s wives performing a concert had a big concept driving it. Why Am I So Single? sounds simpler -just two friends chatting about their love lives and attempting to answer that titular question. But, as you might guess, there’s more going on with such a talented duo. The show is smart, funny and brilliant.
Our heroes (make no mistake, that’s what they are) Nancy and Oliver are stars. They’d concur that they might be “weird and intense”, but a combination of vulnerability, intelligence and wit makes them easy to spend time with. Excellent performances from Jo Foster and Leesa Tulley emphasise admirable qualities. It’s a safe bet most of us would want to join them, with wine, on the sofa the show is based around.
It just so happens Nancy and Oliver are musical theatre writers, working on a new show for this very theatre after a previous hit. Names have been changed to protect identities, so we’ve no idea who characters might be based on! There are a lot of in-jokes (Lionel Bart would be very happy) and they are all very funny. If the references and the metatheatricality are a turn-off, you might have a problem. But instead of the usual arty angst about writing a show, it’s clear Marlow and Moss love what they do, and that enthusiasm is exciting.
“A big fancy musical”
All this is entertaining and convivial, although it targets a youthful audience and going on dates is, dramatically, small stakes. But Why Am I So Single? aims to be “a big fancy musical”. How Marlow and Moss attempt that leap is fascinating. Most obviously, a great ensemble joins our couple, bringing ambitious choreography from Ellen Kane. Performing as household furniture (Max Johns’ costumes are a blast) as well as backing singers and dancers, there’s also a good friend, Arty (the excellent Noah Thomas), filling the stage with energy. It’s all a touch mad (including an accomplished song about a bee) but also, magically, feels grand.
The songs are fantastic. The variety of styles show composers who know every trick in the book, and each number is a great example of writing for the theatre. All songs deserve praise, and several have twists with bite. And the lyrics are a joy, as plenty of swearing sits alongside erudition. Yes, there are bonus points for getting antihistamine and citronella into a song. But alongside laugh-out-loud lines, plenty bring a tear to the eye, stop you in your tracks and provoke thought.
It turns out the show is big and fancy because it has something important to say. We’ve seen modern dating on stage before, but seldom this funny, explored so deeply or with a non-binary character centre stage. But while Nancy and Oliver’s trials in the ‘Meet Market’ of dating apps is great… a further theme comes to the fore. Reassessing platonic relationships is the answer to the show’s question. This new focus on love – increasingly topical – is handled with a cleverness and sensitivity that makes Why Am I So Single? stand out. Marlow and Moss have done it again.
Booking until 13 February 2025
Photos by Danny Kaan