50 First Dates

The Other Palace

Your new comfort show. Every character adds extra flavour to the plot, and this gives each actor a moment to shine.

The big question you will want me to answer is “Does the musical mirror the film?”. We will absolutely be delving into that! For those of you who aren’t familiar with the popular Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore romcom, it’s all about a pair who cross paths and spend a spontaneous day together. Henry is played by Josh St. Clair, and Lucy is played by the mean girl turned dream girl, Georgina Castle. Little does Henry know their perfect date is all erased in Lucy’s world the next day. It’s up to him to find a way to get his unexpected love to rekindle and grow every day. After a tragic accident, Lucy has short-term memory loss, which means Henry needs to get her up to speed each day! It’s a Hawaiian vibe in Florida, and the side characters will leave a lasting impression because they are the comic relief and vibrancy of the plot.

In this version of the film, Henry is a travel blogger/public figure who hops from place to place and knows how to sweep a lady off their feet for the evening. Just like in the film, he struggles to commit and has no intention to change this. Removing the element of Henry being a marine veterinarian strips away the aspect of him that is endearing and redeems him, as it reveals he is a good person. The decision to help animals is harder for the audience to dislike him in the film... but his leaving to carry on jumping from city to city, living the life of an influencer, is harder for the audience to see his better qualities. One great alteration was the accident Lucy was in, because there is this incredible moment where a character shows why they have put so much effort into making her day perfect every day and why they haven't left her side. I won't go into more detail as it will ruin the plot for you, but know this moment is heartfelt, emotional and will unexpectedly hit you hard. Whilst some areas have been changed, it still preserves the comforting feeling that the story has, it's uplifting and the most important thing; it reminds the audience of the importance of living in the moment.

What is so refreshing about the show? Each member of the cast is a part of the story and an important part of Lucy's life. This element is a great part of the show because it gives each person in the cast an opportunity to shine and show off their skills. The characters have individuality and aren't seen as a unit. Which means the audience would have different characters that leave a lasting impression or personal stories that they can relate to. However, as Lucy and Henry's story is a main part of the plot, it feels like there aren't many moments of seeing them alone. That being said, Castle and St. Clair use the material they have to display to the audience how much the characters need each other and their relationship quirks. Their stage romance is natural, beautiful and electrifying. However, there is one character that steals the show with their incredible ability to charm and entertain the audience, and that is Chad Saint Louis. This character steals the show, and Saint Louis has filled the shoes of this character extremely well. The comedy is addictive, their sparky energy bounces off the wall, and the audience roars with laughter at their scenes. There is so much high-quality skill in the cast. I could go on for years with analysing each character and the colours they paint the show.

The set is simple, but sadly, it just doesn't feel as enchanting and homely as it should. The whole point of the story is that this place feels like home and that the characters are drawn to this place. There are not a lot of elements of the set that feel personal to the characters. It feels like a lot of effort went into creating this Hawaiian theme in Florida, rather than making a setting that's personal to each character. The moment where Lucy shows Henry all her paintings of him is also a part of the show that lowers the quality; the images of art projected on the set don't feel real or well thought out, and some of the pictures don't really look similar to him or show an element of his personality. It's a moment that reminds you that it's quality, not quantity, even if it was one or two paintings of him that reflect the care and connection Lucy has to him, that she doesn't understand the way she cares for the pictures is what presents to the audience the significance of him to her subconscious mind.

Whilst the show doesn't feel like a carbon copy of the film or a love letter to the story, it just doesn't feel like the next best thing. It's a reminder that making musicals of films isn't always the formula to make something that will make its mark in the theatre world. Yes, it's comforting, and you won't mind seeing it again; you won't walk away blown away by the show, and the songs just aren't memorable. The cast have great acting skills, the cast having their own moment is rare, but it just doesn't stand out from all the other musicals of popular films. In terms of what is a good musical in my own opinion, it is a score that you will want to sing along to, add to your playlist, and choreography that creates its own style and is individual to the show. There is nothing that feels new or authentic. Don't get me wrong, you will have a good time, feel uplifted, and if you like the film, then this is a safe option. We just need fewer movie musicals in the theatre. If you're not a regular theatre go'er and want a good time, this is perfect for you!