A HEARTFELT MUSICAL THAT BALANCES LAUGHTER, TEARS AND JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CHEESE

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

There’s always a risk when a much loved rom-com makes the leap to the stage, especially when the original casting feels untouchable. But 50 First Dates: The Musical at The Other Palace surprised me in the best way. It’s wholesome, funny, and emotional. And whilst it doesn’t quite outshine Drew and Adam, it had me invested from start to finish.

The show does a clever job of modernising the story. Henry now runs a successful travel blog, a smart update to the character. And they explain why Lucy doesn’t have a phone (because, really, who doesn’t these days?). It’s faithful to the story we know but adds enough to make it feel fresh.

Josh St Clair (Henry) and Georgina Castle (Lucy) had the tough task of stepping into roles made iconic by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. While those film performances will always be hard to beat, both manage to carve out their own space. St Clair’s Henry grows on you, his arc pulling you in until you’re fully rooting for him, while Castle brings warmth and sincerity as Lucy, grounding the story’s more whimsical elements. Together, they carry the heart of the piece with charm.

WHILE HENRY AND LUCY BRING THE ROMANCE, IT’S THE ENSEMBLE THAT BRING THE MAGIC

What makes this show shine, though, is the ensemble around them. Chad Saint Louis as Sandy was a complete standout! He injected so much whimsy, comedy, and joy that he lifted every scene he was in. Charlie Toland as Doug had me laughing out loud, while John Marquez brought real weight to Marlin, a father trying to protect his daughter. Natasha O’Brien as Delilah, Henry’s agent, was another highlight. Her escalating frustration and stress as she tried to drag him back to his blog was both funny and oddly relatable.

The staging is tight but inventive. With clever use of projections, lighting, and sets, the production makes the most of The Other Palace’s space. Yes, there are a lot of quick set changes (something my critic brain noticed more than it should), but it never distracted. And the pre-show montage of real life first date photos on the backdrop was a sweet touch, making the audience part of the story from the start.

Tonally, the show nails its balance. It’s a very funny piece, (I laughed out loud multiple times), but it also got a me a little choked up at times. That’s not easy to pull off, and it shows how much heart the cast put in. At 1hr 40 with no interval, it does whizz by, though word of warning: make sure you hit the loo before it starts.

Overall, 50 First Dates: The Musical is a delightful night out. It’s warm, funny, and heartfelt, with a cast that make the roles their own without trying to mimic the film. Sure, Sandler and Barrymore will always be iconic, but this stage version is a love story worth fall for all over again. And again. And again.

50 First Dates: The Musical is running at The Other Palace until Sunday 16 November.

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Photo Credit: Pamela Raith