50 First Dates: The Musical at the Other Palace
Having its UK premiere at the Other Palace theatre in London is 50 First Dates, a reimagined musical version of the 2004 hit rom-com starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler.
Charming schoolteacher Lucy Whitmore (Georgina Castle) had a car accident a year ago that left her with severe memory loss. Every day, she lives a Groundhog Day, with her family and friends working to keep everything the same. That is, until she meets charming influencer and travel blogger Henry Roth (Josh St Clair).
Directed by Casey Nicholaw, 50 First Dates is a story of triumph, love and hilarity. Georgia Wing’s witty screenplay transports the movie into 2025 while maintaining the same charm as its source material. St Clair and Castle keep the spirits high throughout and bring Henry and Lucy to life. At first, this writer was unsure about their casting, but as you watch Henry make a fool of himself to win Lucy’s heart, you understand that the chemistry between them is palpable.
However, the leads are overshadowed by Sandy (Chad Saint Louis), a fantastic addition to the line-up who is not in the original movie. Saint Louis’s Sandy is Lucy’s best friend and a server at the charming Ukelele Sue’s Café. Sandy brings life and comedy to the tired town of Key Largo with the jazzy 50s-inspired song of the same name. Sandy was a scene stealer even against the two leads, which is a good thing depending on how you see it.
Also hilarious is Charlie Toland as Lucy’s hillbilly brother Doug. While acknowledging the main cast, a shoutout must be given to the ensemble, who dance and sing their hearts out in every song. The pacing of the production is also immaculate, with the song Happy Sunday acting as a montage of Henry reliving each day, trying to get Lucy to remember him. Somehow, the key parts of the film are all neatly wrapped up in a one-hour and 40-minute package.
Simple and spot-on is the set design by Fly Davis. Every set in Key Largo feels like a small Florida town, with the café being especially homely, like an old-school American diner. Even when there is a mistake (the beach bottle throw), the actors recover immediately. Nobody looks out of place in the ensemble, even if Saint Louis’s vocals outshine everyone else’s.
A noticeable aspect that dampens the production slightly is that sometimes the music is too loud: in certain moments, it was hard to hear even the strongest of singers, which dulled the emotional sparkle of the show a little. However, the musical comes together as a heartwarming story of doomed love, acceptance and optimism. 50 First Dates: The Musical is a reminder to seize the day, because as Lucy says, “tomorrow is never promised,” and you don’t know what lies around the next corner.
If you want to laugh out loud and stomp your feet from your theatre seat, this is the musical for you.
Sophie Humphrey
Photos: Pamela Raith
50 First Dates: The Musical is at the Other Palace from 24th September until 16th November 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.
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