📍The Ambassador’s Theatre, London

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A joyous and life-affirming, powerfully moving piece of theatre.’

I went into new musical ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ vaguely aware of the source material and of the general concept, but my understanding really only went as far as various screengrabs of the Brad Pitt film, and the meme-ified verb of ‘Benjamin Buttoning’ to describe someone’s suspicious youthfulness.
I came out of this musical a complete convert. Encased within this show is a powerful message of love and of how to live one’s life; it is a warm and fuzzy hug of a show, and I left the theatre with blotchy eyes but an even wider smile.

Adapted from the 1922 F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, ‘The Curious case of Benjamin Button’ follows the life of Benjamin at the beginning of the twenty-first century, after he is born amidst a strange blink in time where the whole world appears momentarily to stop and reverse. For the musical, Jethro Compton (book and lyrics) and Darren Clark (music and lyrics) transform Fitzgerald’s original concept to a small fishing town in Cornwall in the early 1900s; an excellent choice which frames and grounds the tone of the entire piece. The entire narrative is introduced through folk song, as if the story itself is a legend being told about a pub table, and thus the entire plot is delivered in a story-within-a-story format, which again works beautifully alongside the folksy knee-slapping music (and is significantly helped by the actor-musician combination of the ensemble). This storytelling transforms the piece into an allegory, and the messaging is visceral yet intimate without feeling laboured or preachy. Equally, as an audience member, there is no detachment from the story being presented in this style – conversely, it grabs you by the heart from the very first note and doesn’t let go until the curtain call.

All of this is the brainchild of Jethro Compton, who wrote the book and lyrics, as well as directing and designing the production (also for the 2019 and 2023 Southwark Playhouse productions of the musical). The direction is slick; never does the stage feel too crowded, despite the almost constant presence of the ensemble and their various instruments. Instead, there is ample space for the story, with the ensemble’s presence acting as the town’s watchful eyes. The Ambassador’s Theatre has been transformed into a quaint Cornish cottage; trinkets including teapots and ceramic ornaments are dotted around the bars and foyer. As you enter the auditorium, a soundscape of crashing waves and cawing gulls fills the space; the stage represents a shabby jetty, with fishing net and ropes thrown about. In this way, the piece embraces you as soon as you enter and feels fully immersive as an audience member, despite the traditional proscenium staging.

The ensemble is a tour-de-force; one of the best I’ve seen in recent years in London. Doubling as the onstage band as well as multi-roling various recurring characters, the ensemble is a superbly well-oiled machine, with every nuanced movement, glance and note carefully and precisely executed. Characters who appear along the way in Benjamin’s life feel fully realised, even those who pop up for little more than a line or two. Benedict Salter and Philippa Hogg who play Benjamin’s parents give gut-wrenching performances; Hogg’s ballad in Act One ‘The Kraken’s Lullaby’ is spine-tingling and heartbreaking.

John Dagleish as Benjamin leads the cast – surely the definition of an actor with ‘range’ as he begins the story as a 70 year old, and ends Act Two as a small child. I was worried at the potential level of ‘suspending disbelief’ required going in to this musical, but each phase of Benjamin’s life is handled beautifully by Dagleish, and the experience of watching him struggle with his affliction is incredibly moving and entirely believable. Clare Foster as love interest Elowen is an assured leading lady, and there is a strong chemistry between the two (‘The Moon and the Sea’ is instantly a musical theatre love song classic!).

As Winter draws closer around London, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ promises to offer a slice of joy and warmth. Rarely does a new piece of theatre arrive with such earnestness and heart – do not miss this musical!  

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button runs until the 15th February, 2025.

Tickets and information: https://benjaminbuttonmusical.com/