Before After – Review

Before After: Southwark Playhouse Borough, London

16th February 2024

★★★

After an initial record-breaking live-stream in 2020, this production marks Before After’s UK premiere. Starring West End favourites Grace Mouat and Jacob Fowler, Before After is a musical love story about a couple given a second shot of romance and happiness.

This romantic story flows nicely and certainly has potential, however it does not quite live up to this as the pace, emotion and dynamics remain fairly consistent throughout. The characters themselves are believable but ultimately they are not developed enough to truly engage and capture the audience.

The score by Stuart Matthew Price and Timothy Knapman is well performed by both Grace Mouat and Jacob Fowler but it lacks lustre with many of the songs being similar and fairly predictable. Throughout the show both voices have the opportunity to stand out and there are some nice harmonies but at times it is hard to hear the lyrics being sung when both Mouat and Fowler are singing together, although perhaps this is due to the lack of microphones. There are some lovely songs within the show but it feels a bit bland and unfortunately not memorable.

The storyline and staging feels similar to a Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years in the way that it jumps from past to present and is told by two young lovers. However, Before After lacks the comedy and change of pace and style that benefits The Last Five Years. It does very much feel like this would be a good romantic novel, or even film, but it somehow falls a little flat on the stage despite excellent performances from its two cast members.

However, the show is well directed by Georgie Rankcom meaning that wherever sat in the small auditorium the audience will get a good view and feel included. The lighting, by Alex Musgrave, works well to enhance the emotions of the piece whilst the simple set, by Yimei Zhao, is used effectively. Perhaps the signage telling the audience if it is ‘before’ or ‘after’ is not needed for most but it does help to aid the transitions.

Overall Before After is a sweet new musical with a nice plot. Don’t expect to be wowed or leave humming the tunes but it’s worth a watch, especially if you are fond of romance.

Before After runs until the 2nd March. For tickets and information click here.

Photo Credit: Danny Kaan