When Roger and Mary Button eagerly await the birth of their baby, a strange sequence of events lead to them being delivered of a fully-formed (and clothed) old man.
This is the premise of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a folk musical set in Cornwall. A life lived backwards, affected by coincidence and quirks of time through the years.
The cast is made up of actor-musicians, many returning to the show, which first graced the London stage at the Southwark Playhouse Little.
Written by Jethro Compton (book & lyrics) and Darren Clark (music & lyrics), it relocates the original short story by F Scott Fitzgerald to a coastal village, with melodies inspired by folk ditties, sea shanties, and wistful longing.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the story of a man who becomes a boy. It is a story of love, fear, forgiveness, exploration, and adventure. It is informed by, and driven by, the sights and sounds of the sea.
John Dagleish and Clare Foster play Benjamin and his love interest, Elowen. Their meeting as older man and younger woman in the pub where she serves “just beer” is charming and bittersweet.
This is a man who has been shunned from birth, his mother hoping for his quick death, his father fearful of his being seen. Elowen’s acceptance of Benjamin at face value gives him hope of the “little life” he wants to live.
The story raises smiles but can also catch you in a breath when it turns to serious matters. A series of lightly told events cause family catastrophe; a wave from the sea to an old man may crack your heart open.
Other than Benjamin, there are many other peripheral characters he meets in the village, then at sea and at war. As they age, he gets visibily younger, but without make-up or props. It’s an attitude, stance. Imperceptible. As Elowen ages in the opposite direction, both actors completely convince.
Although the story is clearly beyond belief, the themes are universal. We are all born, without a choice, and die without a choice. What we do in between, where we go, who we love, the mark we leave behind, is what counts.
Benjamin starts with aches and poor eyesight, and his life winds back to childhood. Just once, he and his wife are the same age, at forty. Eventually, he is a young boy, tearing through the town. Finally, he is nothing.
This is no sad story, though. The songs are vibrant, gorgeous, and decisive. Benjamin will get the life and love he wants. He’ll drink in the Pickled Crab. He’ll have his moments of despair, but something wonderful will pull him out of them.
This is a show with a lot to watch. The rich set (designed by Compton, who also directs) of wooden panels, crates, and fishing nets conjures up a Cornish coast. Items are cast away to return later. The villagers congregate in a chatty chorus to follow Benjamin’s fortunes.
Luke Swaffield’s sound design captures every breath of an otherworldly setting, and Zoe Spurr’s lighting adds the right atmospheric feel. And Anna Kelsey’s costumes subtly catch the passing of time.
The superb West End cast of Benjamin Button also features Matthew Burns, Jonathan Charles, Oonagh Cox, Katy Ellis, Anna Fordham, Philippa Hogg, Damien James, Elliot Mackenzie, Anna Marcuson, Jack Quaron, and Benedict Salter – many of whom reprise their roles from Southwark Playhouse.
It’s a beautiful, inspiring, moving show. A magical, optimistic, and toe-tapping joy.
*****
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button continues at the Ambassadors Theatre, with tickets here and on various other sites.
Image credit: Marc Brenner