Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
New York is a city of dreams, but also of nightmares. It can be a place of romance, adventure, and discovery, but also of loneliness, frustration, and danger. It is a city that attracts millions of visitors every year, but also challenges them with its complexity, diversity, and unpredictability.
For Dougal, a cheerful and naive Brit who arrives in New York for his father’s second wedding, the city is a bewildering and exciting destination. For Robin, a cynical and jaded New Yorker who is the sister of the bride, the city is a familiar and exhausting routine. When they meet at the airport, they have nothing in common except for one thing: they have to deliver the wedding cake across the city in 36 hours.
This is the premise of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), a new musical by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan that will transfer to the West End’s Criterion Theatre on 4 April, after an extended 10-week sold-out run at London’s Kiln Theatre. The musical stars Olivier Award winner Sam Tutty (Dear Evan Hansen, Once on This Island) and Dujonna Gift (Hamilton, Caroline or Change, Motown: The Musical) as Dougal and Robin, two unlikely companions who embark on a musical journey across the Big Apple.
The musical is a charming and witty comedy that explores the themes of love, friendship, and identity in a modern and multicultural world. It features a catchy and eclectic score that ranges from pop to jazz to rap, and a clever and witty book that references classic musicals, movies, and pop culture. The musical also showcases the diversity and vibrancy of New York, with scenes set in iconic locations such as Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.
The musical is the brainchild of Barne and Buchan, two young and talented British writers who met at the University of East Anglia and have been collaborating ever since. They won the Best Composer/Lyricist Award at The Stage Debut Awards in 2020, for an earlier version of the musical titled The Season, which premiered at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich in 2019. They have also written other musicals such as The Little Beasts, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and The Rhythmics.
Barne and Buchan said that they were inspired by their own experiences of visiting New York, and by their love of musical theatre. They said that they wanted to create a musical that was “funny, heartfelt, and original”, and that celebrated the “magic and madness” of New York. They said that they were influenced by musicals such as Rent, Avenue Q, and The Book of Mormon, as well as by movies such as When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and The Hangover.
The musical also boasts a stellar creative team and producers, who have brought the musical to life with flair and finesse. The director and choreographer is Tim Jackson, who has worked on shows such as The Boy in the Dress, Six, and The Last Five Years. The designer is Soutra Gilmour, who has designed for shows such as Les Misérables, The Inheritance, and Cyrano de Bergerac. The lighting designer is Jack Knowles, who has lit shows such as The Jungle, The Lehman Trilogy, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The sound designer is Tony Gayle, who has worked on shows such as Matilda, The Lion King, and Wicked. The music director is Sean Green, who has worked on shows such as Hamilton, Come From Away, and Heathers. The music orchestrations are by Lux Pyramid, who have worked on shows such as & Juliet, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.
The producers are Tim Johanson Productions, Glass Half Full Productions, and Jamie Wilson Productions, who have produced shows such as The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, and Nativity! The Musical. They said that they were “thrilled to collaborate and present this record-breaking new British musical at the iconic Criterion Theatre”. They said that they were “excited to continue serving up this incredible production to new audiences and transporting them on a captivating journey across the Atlantic every night this spring”.
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is a musical that promises to be a sweet and satisfying treat for anyone who loves musicals, comedy, and New York. It is a musical that celebrates the power of music, the joy of adventure, and the beauty of connection. It is a musical that will make you laugh, cry, and sing along. It is a musical that you don’t want to miss.
Two Strangers will run at the Criterion until 14 July.
