The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Ambassadors Theatre

The West End has become a shining treasure trove of new musical theatre gems as of late, and a glistening diamond of a show has just been added into the mix: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. After two stints at the Southwark Playhouse in 2019 and 2023, Darren Clark and Jethro Compton’s musical has made its long-awaited West End debut at the Ambassadors Theatre.

Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1922 short story of the same name, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button sets the extraordinary tale of the man who ages in reverse within a small fishing village in Cornwall. From the rebranding of the Ambassadors Theatre bar as ‘The Pickled Crab’ (the pub featured within the show) to the gentle call of seagulls heard before the performance starts, this production feels deeply and authentically rooted in Cornwall, drawing the audience into the world of this unusual tale from the off.

In this version of the story, Benjamin Button (John Dagleish) is born in 1918 with the physical appearance and mental ability of an elderly man. Shunned by his parents who force him to stay hidden in an upstairs bedroom, Benjamin becomes physically younger and gradually gains the strength to escape — and naturally, he heads straight to the pub. Here at The Pickled Crab is where he meets Elowen Keene (Clare Foster), setting the pair on the path of a most unique love story that spans several decades, with Elowen growing older and Benjamin growing ever younger.

As the thrumming heart of this story, Dagleish’s portrayal of Benjamin is exquisite. He displays an astoundingly precise physicality as the character ages in reverse, with a hopeful glimmer in his eye that makes it easy to empathise with him as he navigates an unimaginable life. His vocal performance helps bring light and shade to the most moving moments, with his soft and bright tone suiting the folky style of Clark’s music beautifully.

Benjamin’s gentle curiosity has a wonderful match within Foster’s whip-smart, cheeky Elowen, whose charisma dazzles in every scene. Between them, the pair possess a captivating chemistry which propels the drama and leaves us hanging off their every word and note.

While we watch Benjamin’s journey unfold onstage, the chorus of Cornish villagers — described as the ‘Strangers’ — support the storytelling through multiroling, singing and, most delightfully of all, live musical instruments. If you were a fan of Hadestown’s intimate storytelling style, I feel pretty confident in guessing that you’ll love The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

The Strangers add an ethereal quality to the show that perfectly suits the narrative’s otherworldly nature and utterly charming score. Clark’s music is intensely evocative, with a series of reprises in the second act stirring up plenty of emotion and reinforcing the show’s themes of the inevitability of time passing and the necessity of grasping every moment. The addition of some Cornish lyrics within a few of the songs is a particularly special touch.

Beyond writing the book and lyrics, Jethro Compton shows off his chops as a director and stage designer in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. You feel the cohesiveness that comes from one person controlling multiple pivotal aspects of the production shine through across every inch of the stage. The set is full of texture and detail that transports us into a quaint fishing village, brought to even bolder life by Zoe Spurr’s lighting design, which is full of twinkling fairy lights and swathes of gentle moonlight.

Every element of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button marries together in peaceful harmony to provide a breathtaking, life-affirming theatrical experience that’s unlike anything else on the West End right now. In a world that constantly rushes past, daring us to keep up, this show feels like a gentle handhold to pull us back into the now and remind us to make every day count.

Reviewer: Olivia Cox

Reviewed: 2nd November 2024

North West End UK Rating: