Why Am I So Single? - Garrick

I wouldn't be surprised if the producers thought the Six fanbase would support it regardless of how it turned out, wouldn't be the first time a creative team have a hit then the follow up isn't so hot.

Interesting passage in a The Stage interview with producer Kenny Wax:

"That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.

The workshop was so well received, and we didn’t think anyone in the regions would pay particular attention to it,” Wax explains, but concedes: “Maybe it could have and should have had a slimmed-down version at Edinburgh this year, and come in later – that might have been a good idea.”

Full interview here: www.thestage.co.uk/features/kenny-wax-im-not-interested-in-the-most-profit--i-want-to-be-there-in-10-years-time

That sounds to me like an admission it’s bit of a dud in its current form!

I had a strong feeling this wouldn't have changed much from the workshop, and indeed it really hasn't been - to its detriment. It feels lazy. The whole thing is hung off a weak framework of having to write a musical but we only touch back on that every now and then. They begin by insulting the audience and continue to insult the rest of the west end multiple times throughout (they really don't like Mamma Mia, apparently? Which, fine, but on what authority are you the one to pass judgement about the quality of other shows?). To me, it sounded like a lot of jokes didn't land at all, but I was wearing Loops because I expected the audience response to songs would be incredibly loud, so it's possible I just didn't hear it.

Jo Foster is the best thing about this. Their performance of Disco Ball, especially when it got stopped half way through and everyone had to start again fifteen minutes later, was excellent. It's the standout moment of the show but I can't help but feel like that is largely down to Jo, rather than the writing.

The pacing is totally off at the moment. First half dragged painfully. Second half was admittedly not helped by the lengthy show stop, but that is not to blame for the slow ending. We could - and SHOULD - ended things about four times before we actually did. The point was made that this show was actually about friendship, and then we proceeded to labour the point over the course of at least three songs. By the third, it just felt like an insult to people's intelligence. I think the message had thoroughly been received.

God bless the ensemble for having to play curtains, a bin, a fridge, etc. Considering the dogs in Legally Blonde, I have to wonder why Lucy doesn't want a cast to have any dignity left at the end of the run?

As it stands, this is a disappointment. After the workshop I thought perhaps it could be salvaged with some involved edits. Now I'm not so sure that it can be. Although I'd like an OCR, solely for Disco Ball.

Absolutely. Or somewhere like the Quays Theatre at The Lowry. They've had Six on in the Lyric Theatre for much of August. Sold-out audiences every night who could have been told about the new musical from the same writers they could see at The Lowry. I can't imagine they'd have had much trouble filling the Quays Theatre for it.

I’m going tomorrow and it sounds like I might need to leave after Act 1 with those timings as I have a train at 11pm at Kings Cross! 🤦‍♂️
I’m actually now considering seeing something else instead of seeing one act of something!

You have to re-book through Why Am I So Single, not Nimax, so you wouldn't be able to use it on another Nimax show.

a shame. the workshop performances had some great tunes, really thought someone would've told them to dismantle the book

This is shocking - if I was writer / cast / production I'd feel completely undermined by my own producer.  Worse than that, really - I'd feel they were actively setting up baleful glances at the work. Very strange behaviour.

“That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.”

Prime bit of theatrical real estate, The Garrick. Sometimes shows can run up to 4 months there (normally augmented by Horrible Histories or The Tiger Who Came To Tea playing in the morning). I’m not sure being gifted The Garrick is any sort of gift at all.

I can't answer that question but it posed the question "Why, Am I So Ickle?"