50 First Dates
Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: The Other Palace, London
Cast: Georgina Castle, Josh St. Clair, Georgia Arron, Aizaac Aruna, Zoë Ann Bown, Emily Olive Boyd, Greg Stylianou Burns, Cole Dunn, Samuelle Durojaiye, Paul Kemble, John Marquez, Natasha O’Brien, Aiesha Naomi Pease, David Pendlebury, Martha Pothen, Ricky Rojas, Chad Saint Louis, Samantha Thomas and Charlie Toland

What if every day was your first date? 50 First Dates: The Musical brings the heart, hilarity and tropical sunshine of the iconic rom-com to the stage for the first time ever. He’s falling for her every day—she’s forgetting him every night. When notorious bachelor Henry meets art teacher Lucy, he thinks he’s finally found “the one”. Until the next morning when she wakes up with no memory of their first date…

50 First Dates was a hit rom-com in the early 2000's starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. While it may not be the first show that comes to mind when you think about shows that need musical adaptations, you'd definitely be mistaken if you're on the fence on whether it needed one. Having its world premiere in one of the most intimate theatres in London, The Other Palace, I simply couldn't think of a better home for the stage adaptation of this iconic romantic comedy. 

If you're unfamiliar, 50 First Dates follows the unlikely love story of Lucy and Henry. In this adaptation, Henry is a successful travel blogger who's about to take his newfound fame to Europe, whereas Lucy has recently had a car accident which has led to the loss of her short term memory. When their worlds collide in a local diner in Key Largo, it's love at first again...and again...and again. 

The book by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen is simply incredible. Oozing with more charm and authenticity than even the original film itself, it somehow manages to pack in more laughs than the film script, but in a way that's both charming and endearing. 

While none of the songs are particularly memorable, they are a perfect blend of feel-good and high-energy, sweeping and romantic, and wickedly funny. You won't find yourself humming to earworms from the soundtrack on the way home, but quite honestly the heart of this production lies not in the music, but in the story and its ensemble. 

The show focuses heavily on themes of belonging and finding your home, wherever that may be. And is a stark reminder to live in the moment and make every second count. It does this so authentically that its difficult not to find yourself emotional throughout. 

The chemistry between Georgina Castle (Lucy) and Josh St Clair (Henry) is undeniable. And they have an ease with each other that makes every interaction feel believable, bouncing off each other in every scene. However, the hidden gems of the show are Chad Saint Louis as Sandy and Natasha O'Brien as Delilah. Despite their limited stage time, they manage to be the most memorable characters with both their wit and comedic timing.

I'd go as far as to say that this is one of best new musicals London has seen for a while. With love and joy exploding from every angle of this production, you'd be hard pressed not to leave with a smile on your face and a lump in your throat. It's a difficult feat to not cross the line into cheesiness with romantic comedy, but 50 First Dates has found the perfect balance. Genuine, uplifting and heartwarming.

You can book tickets to see 50 First Dates, here.

**photo credit: Pamela Raith**