The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Ambassadors Theatre London - Review

It’s all just a matter of time, it’s all just a, it’s all just a matter of…’

Meet Benjamin Button, the extraordinary case of a gentleman born as an old man. He lives like no other, against the ebb and flow of the tide, in a world where tide and time wait for no man, and all he wants to do is life a little life.

Based on a short story by F Scott Fitzgerald, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button the musical is taking London by storm. Having premiered back in 2019 at the Southwark Playhouse, this is a success story of fringe theatre as it now calls The Ambassador’s Theatre in the heart of the West End home, with three Olivier Awards decorating its name.

 With book and lyrics by Jethro Compton, Fitzgerald’s story is transported to a quaint and cosy Cornish fishing village, full of quirky villagers and the much loved pub, the Pickled Crab. When the child born to the Buttons arrives as a 70 year old man, dressed in a suit complete with bowler hat and a love of reading the newspaper, they are ashamed. But as Benjamin discovers that he is aging in reverse, his desire to make the most of the time that he has leads him on an adventure like no other full of love, friendship, loss and learning.

John Dagleish takes on the title role of Benjamin for the West End production, and it is really no surprise that he took home the Olivier award for Best Actor in a musical. With only his mannerisms, voice, expressions and some clever costuming, he is able to play the role from the age of 70 down to the late teenage years, having the audience hanging on his every word. We want Benjamin to find happiness, to experience life and love like he always dreamed he would, and Dagliesh is able to convey all of this with an apparent ease. Clare Foster is his perfect partner as Elowen Keane, the only women Benjamin would ever love. She is feisty, full of character and soul as she takes life in her stride and her performance of ‘Time’ is sublime, packing an emotional punch.

 Throughout, the ensemble cast play a multitude of different characters, from Cornish villagers, to fishermen, family members and friends. And they do all of this whilst playing a countless amount of different musical instruments. For this production has no orchestra, the cast are the orchestra, the ensembled heart and soul of the piece, in step and in time with each other throughout and rarely leaving the stage. From drums to accordions, fiddles to whistles, guitars to tambourines, it really is a sight and sound to behold. It is a wonder how they remember it all, remember what character is where and when, remembering which instrument for which moment all whilst regularly having to change things up depending on which cast members are performing on which given date.

There are so many moments, so many characters, that I could highlight and celebrate, but if I were to do this, this review could go on for quite some time, so instead like me just select a few. Jack Quarton’s Little Jack is an audience favourite, with his wonderful sayings, whilst Quarton also earns many a laugh as Mr Bennett in a comedic double act with Anna Fordham’s Mrs Bennett. The Gladstone’s (Matthew Burns, Oonagh Cox and Damian James) also delight the audience.

 The music is simply incredible, heavily influenced by Cornish folk songs and played beautifully by the exceptionally talented cast. From powerful ballads such as ‘The Kraken’, performed by Phillippa Hogg and ‘Time’, to the wonderfully fun and heartfelt ‘When E’re She Looked at Me’ and ‘Shipping Out’, alongside the catchy and clever ‘Chain of events’ moments, this musical is crammed full of ear worm tunes that deserve nothing but continuous praise. Roughly seven months on from its West End opening, many of a fan of this production find themselves wondering, and questioning on social media, why we have been treated to only three songs on public release when we really would like a full cast recording, please and thank you.

There is something simply magical about this production, and I believe that it is a combination of many ingredients. The incredible performances of the cast, the story that may be seem magical and fantastical but cleverly weaves in the real-life message of the importance of making every second count, the wonderful music that makes your heart soar. And, the wonder of watching the cast themselves witness it all as the ensemble move around the stage, not only providing the music but watching the story unfold as if new to them every show.

 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button plays at the Ambassador’s Theatre, and is currently booking until 30th August 2025. And when you visit, make sure to enjoy a drink at the real life Pickled Crab pub located just outside the theatre, you might even find some delicious Cornish pasties on sale there to really help you to get into the spirit of things.