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BrumHour saw First Date at the invite of The Old Joint Stock.
By Dave Massey x.com/BrumHour
This production contains some strong language and
Review: First Date at The Old Joint Stock
⭐⭐⭐⭐A fun comedy musical.
Directed by James Edge, music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, book by Austin Winsberg
Casey (Rokaya) and Aaron (Michali Dantes) are having a blind date at a restaurant/bar. Tom Kiteley, Lowri Hamer and Joey Warne play most of the other characters some of which are imagined by Casey and Aaron apart from Joey Warne‘s scene-stealing waiter.
It feels very small-town American at times, where the characters only have a limited number of dates across the city to pick and almost everyone knows of everyone else and it is a hundred miles away from the next town.
Rokaya and Michali Dantes are funny and suitably awkward as our lead actors, finding themselves in a situation they are so unsure about. Whilst Joey Warner’s is brilliantly chaotic throughout.
The story plays out in mostly real time, in this fun intimate musical. This is an amusing lyrical production featuring plenty of props, comedic moments and daft asides, it explores the stress and anxiety of getting to know a new person whilst trying to present the best of oneself. The style of the music feels familiar but pretty fresh and, this hundred-seat theatre made me feel like the audience were almost eavesdropping into their lives.
This venue being set above a pub with a restaurant helps because at times our actors have to eat REAL FOOD! Carefull obviously.
Running at two hours and about ten minutes (including an interval) the story plays out pretty quickly.
A fun comedy musical, First Date is at The Old Joint Stock until 25th August. Book tickets here: oldjointstock.co.uk/whats-on/first-date.
