Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) – Review

Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York): Criterion Theatre, London

13th April 2024

★★★★

Following huge success at London’s Kiln Theatre in 2023, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is currently playing at the Criterion Theatre in the West End for a limited run. The two actor show follows Dougal, a young naïve Brit, has just arrived in New York for his Dad’s wedding and Robin, a busy native New Yorker who is also the sister of the bride. This original musical bills itself as being ‘one part “rom” and two parts “com”, with a splash of culture clash.’

This is your typical romantic comedy – full of laughs, cheese and slightly predictable. Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift have a superb relationship and onstage chemistry and bounce off each other constantly. The witty script comes to life as the audience spends 2 days with this unlikely pair. Both actors get a chance to wow the audience with their vocals in various heartfelt moments and comic tunes but it is when they work together that they truly come to life.

The revolving set by Soutra Gilmour, comprises of a landscape of muted suitcases which turn into different parts of NYC from the subway to the Plaza hotel. Lighting, by Jack Knowles, also adds to this slick production. It is easy to see why it was so popular during its initial run at the Kiln theatre and is definitely worthy of this West End run. Whilst the plot is somewhat predictable, it is the perfect escape and a reminder of why rom-com films always do so well in the listings. It manages to pull off the perfect blend of humour and character into the storyline and clever script. The music, by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, is fun, uplifting and the lyrics are very clever. The original score works well to move the production on and adds a further dynamic but is not particularly memorable.

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is exactly what it is billed to be and with two stand out performers in Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift this is certainly a fun musical to catch whilst it’s in town this summer.

Photo Credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg and Tristram Kenton