By Ben Lerner
There’s a delightful new romantic comedy about two strangers carrying a cake across NYC. It happens to be a musical direct from London called Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), now playing on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre.
It delivers on that premise, but I can also promise you’ll laugh, smile, swoon, and be moved. Weeping is not out of the question. Being charmed by its two leads is guaranteed. Developed in the UK but set in Manhattan and Brooklyn over two days in December, Two Strangers makes New Yorkers, Brits, and any romcom aficionado feel right at home.
Unlike the average musical comedy, Two Strangers has only two cast members — and you guessed it, they’re the two strangers in question. One is Dougal, fresh off the plane from London to attend his estranged father’s NYC wedding, and the other is Robin, a busy New Yorker and sister of the bride who is tasked with picking up “the kid.” Do they vibe at first? Of course not! Do things change? Well, it’s a romcom after all!
Luckily, a classic meet-cute leads to some surprising developments, as truths about both characters are revealed and they begin to care for each other. It follows a formula without being formulaic, largely thanks to the tiny cast, unique direction and a memorable score that spans genres.
The other referenced characters never appear, and while that can occasionally it feel incomplete, Two Strangers thrives on the chemistry and comic timing of its two leads, who are developed beautifully through their maximal stage time. Sam Tutty, known for his Olivier-winning turn as the titular character in the West End’s Dear Evan Hansen, shines as Dougal, who is at times corny, at times vulnerable, and always very adorable and very British. He played the role in London, but his costar, the phenomenal Christiani Pitts as the pessimistic (and secret-carrying!) barista Robin, is new to the Broadway transfer. Pitts, who appeared in King Kong and A Bronx Tale on Broadway, is from New York, which is clear in her referential one-liners about NYC culture.
Jim Barne and Kit Buchan have written a script both wholesome and clever, weaved between catchy songs well-suited for online virality, all sung expertly by Tutty and Pitts. The unique set of oversized suitcases on a Hamilton-esque turntable, designed by Soutra Gilmour, has a few surprises of its own. Its abstract nature and simplicity contrasts with the realistic image on the Playbill cover of Dougal and Robin on the subway.
Directed by Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) is another welcome British addition to the Great White Way. It’s neither radical nor revolutionary, but it’s special to see two talented actors perform a musical romantic comedy all on their own. I’d wager that there’s a bright word-of-mouth future for the production and that its score will develop a young and passionate fandom. Appealing to lovers of both situational comedy and wholesome romance, Two Strangers, set in NYC in December, is a sweet treat for the holiday season. Tickets at https://twostrangersmusical.com/
