The cast of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the Ambassadors Theatre. Photography by Marc BrennerSimilarly to Once, the cast is composed of multi-instrument playing actor-singers who each assume an array of characters. These form a shared role of storyteller, guiding us through the tale of a mysteriously deformed baby, born one strange night to a young Cornish couple. Benjamin Button begins life as a frail old man growing younger as the years pass. Considered an abomination by his parents and incarcerated in the attic room as a shameful secret, his early life is a sad and lonely existence until he begins venturing to the local pub The Pickled Crab where through regular visits, he develops a liking for both beer and a young woman Elowen Keene. Initially, his shyness inhibits romance, but their gradual and increasing familiarity (against the wishes of both of their families), eventually leads to them forming an attachment.
The remainder of the story essentially details the manner and circumstances in which they part and come back together during the course of their lives as she ages and he becomes progressively more youthful. The idyllic years in which they meet somewhere in the middle and raise a family, are constantly in jeopardy as he attempts to hide his shameful secret from those he loves, but as is always the case with such deceptions, the truth will out.
The production’s ethereal set, is constructed of aged wooden pylons, fishing boat tackle and nets adorned with stars suspended above the stage, which add a touch of visual magic. Even a boat’s fender — of the sort which regularly get washed-up on shorelines — doubles as the moon when illuminated from within. Such light touches add a whimsical charm to proceedings, enhancing the already quintessentially intimate feel of the Ambassadors Theatre.
The show maintains a decent pace throughout, which is never less than delightfully engaging and is a testament to the creative team Jethro Compton, Darren Clark, Mark Aspinall, Anna Kelsey, Zoe Spurr, Luke Swaffield and Chi-San Howard who have honed the mechanics with considerable love, care and attention to detail. The folksy tunes are vibrantly delivered by a panoply of instruments which appear and disappear as required, and include guitars, violins, an accordion, cello, double bass, cornet, penny whistle, flute, trombone, drums and keyboard. Most of the cast manage passable Cornish accents and there is even a decent stab at a Kernewek anthem and nods to St Piran, Boscastle, Newlyn, Bodmin and St Austell brewery! The county of Cornwall has rarely received this level of attention on a West End stage.
Fitzgerald attributed his creation to a remark made by Mark Twain “It is a pity that the best part of life comes at the beginning, and the worst part at the end.” Due to the considerable on-stage talents, the beginning, middle and end of Benjamin’s musical journey to find his place in the world, is mellifluously delivered and charm itself, but don’t take my word for it. Go pay them a visit.
CAST: John Dagleish (Benjamin Button), Clare Foster (Elowen Keene), Matthew Burns, Philippa Hogg, Jack Quarton, Jonathan Charles, Benedict Salter, Anna Fordham, Oonagh Cox, Ann Marcuson, Katy Ellis, Elliot Mackenzie and Damien James.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is currently running at the Ambassadors Theatre until 15 February 2025.
