Theatre review:Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)

While we wait for news of whether my long-running campaign to have Indhu Rubasingham take over the National could actually come to something (she's currently considered the runaway favourite which... is basically a guarantee it won't happen,) the outgoing Artistic Director of the Kiln programmes one of the venue's biggest hits in a while, which extended its run before it even opened: Dougal (Sam Tutty) is a 25-year old Englishman whose father abandoned his mother shortly before he was born; he's never actually met him, but it's not been hard to keep up with what he's been up to because his father went on to become a millionaire. Now it seems Mark has finally remembered his son exists, as Dougal has received an invitation to his wedding in New York, to a much younger woman. He's flown over for two days, and is as excited to finally meet his father at he is to see the city of his favourite films.

Meeting him at JFK to make sure he finds his way to his hotel is the bride's sister. For reasons that will become clear, Robin (Dujonna Gift) has been lumbered with all the worst wedmin jobs, and babysitting Dougal is definitely considered one of those.

From here on Jim Barne and Kit Buchan's Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) follows the standard romantic comedy formula, pitting the wide-eyed innocent against the world-weary cynic, but does so in such pitch-perfect fashion it feels fresh. Tutty's Dougal is a socially-awkward misfit, using the strict rom-com definition of that term as "the most effortlessly charming man to have ever lived." He's built a shell of determined optimism to protect him from his father's indifference, so among the general air of comedy, making him have to confront it is very much in the "kicking a puppy" area.

Gift has the spikier character, disillusioned with New York as her proximity to millionaires hasn't made it any easier for her to get by in an expensive city. But it doesn't mean she doesn't also get the chance to bring her own touch to the comic exchanges, and her parody of the female vocals on every Christmas song is a highlight. Inspired by the airport baggage carousel where the pair meet, Soutra Gilmour's set piles luggage onto a double revolve, and Tim Jackson's production gets great energy out of them navigating it as it opens to reveal Brooklyn streets, hotel rooms and Chinese restaurants.

I can't remember when I had a year of theatre with such a hit rate of musicals, and Two Strangers continues this 2023 trend. Barne and Buchan's songs are instantly catchy, and variously witty and moving as required. There's quite a strong reliance on repetition and reprise, with each lead getting a signature tune that they revisit and reinterpret. But there's enough development for this not to overstay its welcome, and the reprises are interspersed with other strong numbers. Another thing that's happened in 2023 is me revisiting a higher than usual number of shows (well, three, but when you see as many as I do there's no time or money left for repeat visits.) I don't know if I'll get round to another subway ride with Tutty and Gift but I wouldn't say no.

Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan is booking until the 20th of January at the Kiln Theatre.

Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes including interval.

Photo credit: Marc Brenner.