Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts in TWO STRANGERS (c) Matthew Murphy

by Tim Leininger

NEW YORK — Odd couple stories would seem to be old hat in theater at this point, but this past Saturday, Nov. 15, I got to see two of them, with the more enigmatic Little Bear Ridge Road, which I’ve already reviewed, and the one I present to you now, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), a new musical written by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, directed by Tim Jackson (Merrily We Roll Along), running at Longacre Theatre at 220 W. 48^th St. in New York City.

            For a musical with a title of such specificity as Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), there is very little cake carrying involved, though there is quite a bit of traveling across and about New York City. I suppose it could be viewed metaphorically, as a cake is a combination of ingredients that generally don’t taste all that great on their own, but as they come together at the right amounts at the right time, something quite beautiful and delicious becomes the final product. No such metaphor is every explicitly stated in the musical, that is just my long stretch of reasoning, and I think it works.

Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts in TWO STRANGERS (c) Matthew Murphy

            The musical’s two titular strangers are Robin, played by Christiani Pitts (King Kong, A Bronx Tale), and Dougal, played by Sam Tutty (West End: Dear Evan Hansen). Robin’s sister is getting married to Dougal’s wealthy estranged father, and Robin is tasked with picking up Dougal from the airport and escorting him into the city. Yes, this would mean that Robin would become Dougal’s aunt after the wedding, which is a bit odd to them both as Dougal’s father is 57 and Robin’s sister is 30. A born and bred cynical New Yorker, Robin has no time for Dougal’s wide-eyed tourist engrossed attitude toward the Big Apple.

            The cake comes into play when Dougal offers to help Robin pick up a four-tier wedding cake for the wedding the next day, and when an accident happens to one of the tiers, Robin begins to question her value not only to her family, but her own self-worth. Dougal, the eternal optimist, attempts to help, and hilarity ensues as the duo trek across New York, one there for the first time, another there all her life, but both discovering joys in the city and for themselves.

            Two Strangers… is a genuine, charming musical. Barne and Buchan’s music is wistful, yet playfully complicated, never letting the humor get too saccharine, particularly keeping Dougal just on this side of tolerable as it is easy to relate to Robin’s impatience with him. The closer to Act 1, “American Express” and the opener to Act 2 “The Hangover Duet” are both particularly hilarious as the duo decide to make some spontaneous decisions with Dougal’s dad’s credit card. Tonally, the show reminds me a bit of Joe DiPietro’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, full of fun, humorous situations, but still having moments of genuine tenderness and honesty between Robin and Dougal.

Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts in TWO STRANGERS (c) Matthew Murphy

            Both Pitts and Tutty are great. I’m thrilled that Pitts, who is a talented actress, finally get a show that has more qualities to it than her talent. She plays Robin with a sharp tongue and biting humor, while showing these defensive qualities are protecting her from addressing a more sensitive quality that rests within. Tutty balances Dougal’s naïve qualities with earnestness and hope that gives him an internal strength that fits Robin’s external strength. It brings the two together to face the harsh reality of who they are and how they, not only relate to each other, but to their respective relatives getting married the day of the second act.

            Soutra Gilmour has designed a playful little set featuring two stacks of various sized suitcases that open at different times to represent seats on a subway car, or a coffee shop, or a room at the Plaza. It’s a bit monochromatic when the suitcases are closed, but that monochromaticism does help in creating an illusion of the suitcases representing the New York City skyline. Jack Knowles’ lighting incorporated into the suitcases help bring some visual pop to it. Gilmour also designed the costumes which are particularly fitting for the characters, but there is a dress that Robin wears that my immediate reaction is, what is she doing wearing this in the middle of December, when the musical is set, in New York City? She’s gorgeous in it, but girl, aren’t you cold?!

Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty in TWO STRANGERS (c) Matthew Murphy

            Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) may be a little misleading in the title. It’s not a road trip and though cake does factor into the plot, it isn’t a MacGuffin of any real sort. It’s more of the spark that lights the journey that Robin and Dougal start. What we do get is a charming, sensitive, funny little comedy that is an absolute delight.

TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)

TICKETS: https://twostrangersmusical.com/

PRODUCTION: Written by Jim Barne & Kit Buchan; Music Supervision: Nick Finlow; Scenic & Costume Design: Soutra Gilmour; Lighting Design: Jack Knowles; Sound Design: Tony Gayle; Hair & Wig Design: Cheryl Thomas; Associate Director & Choreographer: Asmeret Ghebremichael; Production Stage Manager: Judith Schoenfeld; Orchestrations & Music Production: Lux Pyramid; Music Director: Ted Arthur; Music Coordination: John Miller; Production Management: Hudson Theatrical Associates; Original UK Casting: Julia Horan CDG; US Casting: C12 Casting, Stephen Kopel, CSA; Advertising & Marketing: The Pekoe Group; Press Representative: Vivacity Media Group; Company Manager: Eric Rothstein; Associate Producers: Jack Eidson, Jonny Godbold, Amy Hetherington, Harrison Rose, Evan Shalat; General Management: Theater Matters, John E. Gendron & Ashley Berman

CAST (in order of appearance)

Christiani Pitts as Robin

Sam Tutty as Dougal