The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Many will be familiar with F Scott Fitzgerald’s novella The Curious Case of Benjamin Button through the Academy Award winning film adaptation starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Jethro Compton and Darren Clark’s Cornish twist on the story began life in 2019 at the Southwark Playhouse. Garnering acclaim following its limited run, the show makes its return once again to the recently opened Elephant & Castle branch, and I was invited to review it.

Cast

Benjamin Button/Mrs. Gladstone’s sister: Jamie Parker (he/him)
Elowen Keene/Sterenow/The Sheep: Molly Osborne (she/her)
Roger Button/Tewes: Benedict Salter (he/him)
Locryn/Keyvnor/Mrs Bennett: Anna Fordham (they/she/he)
Jack Trenlee/Mr. Bennett/Tonnow: Jack Quarton (he/him)
Ebron/Lowen/Mr. Gladstone: Oonagh Cox (she/her)
Treth/Morwenna Keene/Miss Moncrief: Ann Marcuson (she/her)
Avoryow/Mary Button/Captain Arthur Adam Carrick/Captain Adam Arthur Carrick: Phillipa Hogg (she/her)
Growan/Tenlee Senior/Drunkard: Jonathan Charles (he/him)
Tir/Jago Bligh/Mrs Gladstone: Damien James (he/him)
Morlan/Landlord/John Jenkin: Matthew Burns (he/him)
Gwyns/Milly Dyer: Tonny Shim

Rating: ★★★★★

What is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button about?

In a sleepy Cornish town, a boy named Benjamin Button is born with a strange condition: He ages in reverse. Locked away for years and following the loss of his mother, Benjamin’s first taste of freedom leads to him meeting local barmaid Elowen Keene. Forming a love so strong, Benjamin struggles with the trials and tribulations of life as time threatens to keep the two of them apart.

What are my thoughts on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

F Scott Fitzgerald’s novella has been has adapted so freely to the point many may not know its actual plot besides the basic premise of a man ageing in reverse. So if you’re going into this The Curious Case of Benjamin Button expecting a stage version of the novella or 2008 film, then you may be taken aback as soon as it begins. Taking the action from 18th century Baltimore to 20th century Cornwall, this is a moving and beautiful show capable of standing out on its own. To put it simply, it’s a show about life.

Filled with more pathos than Fitzgerald’s satire and intimacy than Fincher’s cinematic epic, Jethro Compton’s direction and script treat The Curious Case of Benjamin Button like a Celtic folk tale with a sense of realism. A mix of scenes exposited to us by the ensemble and scenes played out by the characters, the world building and emotions are so honest and human. With an air of romance that radiates in the theatre, we empathise with Benjamin facing the hardships, tragedies and joys of life while he questions his mortality.

Besides one major aspect I’ll mention next, what brings this The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to life is its staging featuring fish nets hanging above and trap doors holding objects ranging from suitcases and costumes, to sand and water. Zoe Spurr’s evocative lighting design captures the storybook romance of the show while Luke Swaffield’s sound design immerses the audience into sleepy Cornwall including the crashing waves of the salty ocean, the hollow echoes of Benjamin’s voice when trapped in a mine, and the crackling from a television of Neil Armstrong landing on the moon.

What’s the music like?

The biggest thing I must praise in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is Jethro Compton and Darren Clark’s music, which I can’t call anything other than gorgeous as a lover of folk. Inspired by Cornish sea shanties, each toe-tapping song is pure magic to listen to as it captures complex emotions from raucous energy to quiet pensiveness. Played with such liveliness and vivacity by the phenomenal 12-piece actor-muso company, the only thought I had when leaving the theatre was begging for a cast recording.

Are there any standout moments?

There are many to pick in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, so I’m focusing on two. The first involves the song Matter of Time inspired by the butterfly effect, which says a chain of unconnected and insignificant events can change the course of somebody’s life. Fitting for a story about a man’s stranger than normal life, the song is performed three times with each version providing humour, intrigue and in the case of the final reprise, a heart-wrenching gut punch.

My second is the act one finale when Benjamin and Elowen reunite the night before he’s sent to war in Normandy. The sweeping music, romantic lighting, performer’s chemistry and choreography all come together to capture the rush of emotions when they finally give into their burgeoning feelings after being separated for years. In fact, part me of fought the urge to look away because the moment felt so intimate that my presence was evading it.

What’s the cast like?

Leading the incredible 12-piece ensemble, Jamie Parker (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) is mesmerising as the titular Benjamin Button. Born a grown elderly man talking, clothed and with a smoking habit, Parker doesn’t need makeup or a wig (which ironically become plot points) to capture Benjamin’s youthful soul trapped in an elderly man’s body and vice versa. Instead he juxtaposes Benjamin’s mental and physical age in his mannerisms and voice, making his de-ageing throughout the show so seamless as we emphasise in his journey to be “normal.” Giving 100,000% in solos including A Little Life and Home, whenever he was in tears, I was too. That is when he wasn’t also briefly playing Mrs. Gladstone’s sister.

Molly Osborne brings gusto and carefreeness to barmaid Elowen Keene, who sees Benjamin as a kindred spirit in a less unintentionally creepy dynamic than the film’s romance. Both she and Parker make their love so believable, yet when Elowen has to express her justifiable anger at Benjamin’s decisions, these moments lend itself to the show’s rawest moments, that is if you’re not in tears come her eleven o’clock number Time.

Parker and Osborne aren’t the only performers in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button who have to play characters of different ages as the rest of the ensemble get their chance to play a colourful cast (often switching genders which was a nice touch). Just a few I want to mention are Jack Quarton as Jack Trenlee both as a child and adult, capable of making a joke involving a piano falling down a mine heartbreaking. Anna Fordham (he/she/they) brings liveliness to Benjamin and Elowen’s son Locryn and humour as the perpetually miserable Mrs Bennett, while Jonathan Charles is comedic gold as the local drunkard still waiting for his wife to return home after decades.

What are my overall thoughts?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is of the most exciting and riveting new musicals I’ve seen that fits neatly into the folk actor-muso theatre genre with the likes of Once, Amelie and Come From Away. It’s a moving, thoughtful and life-affirming adaptation played by a phenomenal cast that’s worth seeing for the music alone. Possibly my favourite adaptation of the story, I hope we see this show go beyond its Southwark Playhouse run.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button runs at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant until July 1st.