The dynamic duo behind Six, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, have done it again, this time with their new show Why Am I So Single? — and it’s packed with their signature blend of catchy tunes and sharp wit. The pair, who are quickly solidifying themselves as the West End’s best music and lyric writers of this century, offer up another glittering, laugh-filled trip through the perils of modern dating. But, while the music soars, the story doesn’t always hit the same high notes.
The plot follows Oliver (Jo Foster) and Nancy (Leesa Tulley), inspired by the show’s writers themselves, as they sign a deal with the Garrick Theatre to create a new musical. Spurred on by their no-nonsense agent (Olivia O’Connor), they embrace the age-old adage of “write what you know.” And what do they know? Being single and struggling through the modern dating world.
Jo Foster delivers a standout performance as Oliver, whose struggle with their sexuality and gender identity lends the show an important, heartfelt angle. Their solo, "Disco Ball," is a knockout moment — tender, raw, and deeply felt. But despite Foster’s magnetic presence, Oliver’s journey feels like it flatlines. There’s no real resolution by the end, which left me wondering if the intention was to highlight the harsh truth that not all love stories wrap up neatly. Admirable, yes, but two hours of moaning about emotional ups and downs without payoff had a bit of a “woe is me” vibe - especially as there was a lovely delivery driver, played by Ran Marner, who was interested in Oliver, but he ended up being one of the many characters introduced and then thrown to the side.
Leesa Tulley, as Nancy, brings the house down. Her face-meltingly impeccable vocals, fabulous comedic retorts, and ability to keep the audience tethered to the story make her the ultimate yin to Foster’s yang. Nancy’s arc — getting over an ex and the ensuing struggle to move on — is far more recognisable and relatable. Tulley’s Nancy expertly breaks the fourth wall, charmingly pulling us along the winding road of their friendship past, present, and future. Without her firm grip on the narrative, this show could have easily spiralled into chaotic whimsy.
There’s no shortage of clever musical numbers either. Noah Thomas, of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie fame, nails the role of Artie, a homosexual in a happy monogamous relationship, shock horror! Thomas delivered superb comedic insight and a standout tap-dancing-texting song that’s as ridiculous as it is inventive. However, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the idea of anyone under 30 still having their keyboard clicks on — let alone a whole stage full of them!
And let’s talk about the bee song. Yes, the song about the bee. Equal parts bonkers and brilliant, it had the entire audience in stitches, though I’m pretty sure none of us had a clue what was actually happening. While it was easily a highlight, it did break the momentum at a crucial moment, forcing the plot to grind to a halt before awkwardly rebooting again.
Marlow and Moss have clearly mastered the art of humour from pithy one-liners and shameful puns to camp retorts and physical humour. The funnest moment in the show is in the opening scene, where the majority of the set were played by the wonderful ensemble cast. As we left the theatre, people were discussing which household item was their favourite — the general consensus here was that the ‘bin’ was the out and out winner, congratulations Rhys Wilkinson! But there’s no denying the overall story felt a bit thin. The characters are rich and layered, but the plot itself could have been snappier, tighter, and — dare I say — more satisfying.
The exploration of the two main characters was thorough and interesting but, I feel like the narrative could have been condensed into an hour, or have been a wonderful b-story in another plot. It does feel like Marlow and Moss may require a book writer if they want to grip the audience with a well told story. The comparisons to Six are inevitable, and while Why Am I So Single? shares some of its predecessor's strengths (fabulous music, razor-sharp humour), it also highlights where it falls short. The thing is, Six didn’t need a strong plot because it was playing with history we all know. Here, with an original storyline, we need something more substantial to keep us hooked between the songs.
Still, the characters and representation in Why Am I So Single? are a huge win for the West End. It’s refreshing to see a non-binary lead character and LGBT+ stories that feel natural and not shoehorned in for the sake of it. The show brings representation without making it feel like it’s trying too hard — a rare and welcome feat.
All in all, Why Am I So Single? is an enjoyable night out, with enough laughs, incredible vocals, and glittering performances to carry it through any narrative hiccups. It’s a show that’ll leave you humming the tunes for days, and if they release the soundtrack (which they undoubtedly will), I’ll be first in line to add it to my playlist.
If you’re in the mood for something fun, fresh, and fabulously camp, catch Why Am I So Single? at the Garrick Theatre. You won’t regret it — even if you leave still single!
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