Why Am I So Single is the latest musical from writers of Six, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss to hit the West End. This show, whilst retaining Marlow and Moss’ humour that we have become familiar with in Six, is miles away from the Tudor Court and is set right up to date with the majority of the action taking place in one of the characters flat and is a show about friendship at the core.

The show focuses on our 2 main characters, Oliver and Nancy, best friends (who also happen to be writing a musical) who decide one night at Oliver’s flat to tackle the question of why they are so single. Throughout this evening the audience are regaled with some of their previous dating experience, including Oliver being stood up on 8 dates and the night they first met whilst bigger issues are touched upon such as grief and the difficulties that growing up queer can bring.

The central theme of friendship and how it is addressed throughout the show is brilliant to see on the West End stage, often the West End stage focuses on epic love stories or life changing events but what was wonderful about Why Am I So Single? that it is utterly relatable. There is humour in so much of the show but it is all the more funnier that we can often see glimpses of ourselves in the various scenarios portrayed. There are moments where the conversations between Oliver and Nancy feel like they are covering old ground and it was at times like this where is felt like there could be 10 minutes shaved off the running time.

Oliver and Nancy are played by Jo Foster and Leesa Tulley respectively. Foster really dives into the depths of Oliver and you believe them both at their most over the top moments just as much as you do in their more vulnerable scenes. Equally Tulley succeeds in making a relatable character incredibly watchable. Both Foster and Tulley are stars in their own right, flawlessly dancing and delivering memorable vocal but what enhances their performance and the show is their chemistry and friendship on stage. As an audience member watching them you easily believe the genuine love and warmth from Oliver and Nancy towards each other just radiating off them.

Noah Thomas plays their good friend Artie and he threatens to steal the show each time he comes on with his sensible advice and no nonsense approach. He however manages to portray Artie with kindness and love whilst being hilarious with it. The rest of the ensemble are used throughout the show as parts as Oliver’s apartment, from a coat stand to a monstera plant and they threw themselves into their roles, embracing the kookiness. Each of the ensemble oozed personality and it was just as fun watching them tell their own story in the ensemble numbers as it was focusing on the main action.

Music wise there is a real mix of genres within the show, rooted in the fact that Nancy and Oliver and musical theatre writers. The songs however don’t jar as all of them are peppered with Marlow and Moss’ unique way with words and contemporary story telling. The audience are treated to ballads such as Just In Case in which Nancy sings about being unable to get over her ex and is a masterclass by Leesa Tulley in acting through song. We have camp classics such as Disco Ball where the music screams party but the underlying theme is much more nuanced and by the end of the number I didn’t know if I should cheer or cry, a very clever approach. C U Never also left me wanting to be best friends with Artie, their no nonsense talking friend who gives the advice we all need to hear throughout this song. At moments there were times where, especially in Act 1 where it felt like some of the songs were superfluous to the musical as such as ‘Got Off The Plane’ and ‘Interlude in B Minor’ felt like an odd segue just before the interval.

The choreography by Ellen Kane complimented the various musical styles brilliantly, from tap through to a homage to Marilyn Monroe Kane ensured that each number had its own style whilst keeping the piece cohesive although the choreography of 8 Dates was a master pieces both in the style and in the execution of it by the cast.

Why am I So Single? promises a ‘big fancy musical’ and whilst it is all singing and all dancing the success of it is not that it is big or fancy, in fact quite the opposite, the success of it is the heart and the relatability that runs throughout the show.

Why Am I So Single is currently on at The Garrick Theatre and is currently booking until February 2025. You can book tickets here.

If you like this review you might also like my review of Six, Hot Gay Time Machine and Mean Girls.