| Two Strangers | |
|---|---|
| (Carry a Cake Across New York) | |
 Off-West End Promotional Poster | |
| Music | Jim Barne Kit Buchan |
| Lyrics | Jim Barne Kit Buchan |
| Book | Jim Barne Kit Buchan |
| Premiere | 5 November 2019: New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich |
| Productions | 2019 Ipswich and Northampton 2023 London 2024 West End |
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is a British musical by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan. The play first ran in 2019 in Ipswich and Northampton, starring Tori Allen-Martin and Alex Cardall. Shows returned in London in 2023, starring Dujonna Gift and Sam Tutty.
Production history
Ipswich & Northampton (2019)
Originally called The Season,[1] Two Strangers was co-produced by the New Wolsey Theatre and Royal & Derngate, directed by Tim Jackson, and starred Tori Allen-Martin as Robyn and Alex Cardall as Dougal. It ran in Ipswich from 5 to 16 November and Northampton from 19 to 30 November 2019.[2]
Off-West End (2023-24)
A new production under the new title Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) opened at London's Kiln Theatre, directed by Tim Jackson and starring Dujonna Gift as Robin and Sam Tutty as Dougal with designs by Soutra Gilmour. The production began previews from 9 November with a press night on 16 November and was originally due to run until 23 December before being extended to 20 January 2024.[3]
West End (2024)
Due to the success of the production at the Kiln, it was announced that Two Strangers would transfer to the West End for a strictly limited run with Gift and Tutty reprising their roles. The show is expected to begin previews on 4 April at the Criterion Theatre, with a press night planned for 23 April. It is scheduled to run until 14 July 2024.[4]
Cast and characters
| Character | Ipswich | Northampton | Off-West End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2023 | ||
| Robin | Tori Allen-Martin | Dujonna Gift | |
| Dougal | Alex Cardall | Sam Tutty | |
Reception
In November 2023, David Jays, writing for The Guardian, gave the play four out of five stars, noting that it "matches its wide-eyed hero and sardonic heroine with just the right mix of sugar and sour". Jays further described Sam Tutty, who played Dougal, as being as "bouncy as a knapsack full of puppies, his voice soaring but tremulous." He also highlighted how "Dujonna Gift blends sweet and sorrow in the role, and can even sing sarcastically, which is quite the talent". Jays concluded, "Two Strangers wears its romcom influences proudly but never sappily. Funny, heartfelt but unsentimental, it’s a charmer."[1]
Also in November 2023, The Telegraph's Marianka Swain wrote, "Jim Barne and Kit Buchan's heartfelt musical two-hander has all the ingredients to be an irresistibly sweet treat for the festive season".[5]
References
- 1 2 Jays, David (2023-11-17). "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) review – charming romcom is a treat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ↑ "The Season musical at Royal and Derngate and New Wolsey Ipswich casting announced". 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ↑ Mayo, Douglas (2023-08-23). "Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift to star in new musical at Kiln Theatre". British Theatre. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ↑ Rook, Olivia (2024-01-12). "'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)' to transfer to the West End". London Theatre. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ↑ Swain, Marianka (2023-11-17). "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): shades of Richard Curtis in this charming romcom". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-01-12.