Rom-com lovers will rejoice over American Repertory Theater's production of "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" (through July 13). The musical by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan focuses on a happy-go-lucky Brit named Dougal and a New Yorker named Robin who are forced to bond due to circumstances that have thrown them together.
Their meet-cute happens in the airport. Dougal, an affable Sam Tutty, arrives for his father's wedding (his father is marrying Robin's sister). Robin, portrayed by Christiani Pitts, shows up to guide him to his hotel on Canal Street. However, Dougal's exuberance when it comes to all the touristy things New York City has to offer overwhelms Robin. She is eager to drop him at his hotel and go on with her day. But of course, Dougal has other plans.
The show is set during the Christmas season, and he wants to see the Statue of Liberty, go to Rockefeller Center and much more in the brief 36 hours he will be in town. And even though aunty Robin, as Dougal takes to calling her, isn't feeling it, they somehow end up running around the city together. The production, with its straightforward narrative, feels akin to a Lifetime movie available during the holiday season, but with singing and dancing. Still, even though this genre of storytelling has an unavoidably obvious progression, the show's wit, great acting, good singing and tight direction by Tim Jackson make it enjoyable to watch. But if sticky-sweet isn't your jam, this one's not for you. Sure, there's a little tension, but not too much.
The set is an interesting one, designed by Soutra Gilmour (who was also the costume designer), consisting of two large piles of silver-painted suitcases of varying sizes. The largest suitcases look roomy enough to fit several people in, and later, one doubles as a bed, while others open up to become orange subway seats, or a counter at the Bump 'n' Grind Coffee shop that Robin toils at during the day. Another opens to become a well-decorated seating area at a restaurant.
The change of scenery also relies on sharp acting and comedic timing. Tutty's Dougal caused the audience to laugh out loud throughout the show with lines like "I'm a dynamic individual." Sound designers Tony Gayle and Cody Spencer help set the scene with their soundscape, involving traffic sounds, the clanking of mugs for the coffee shop and doorbell buzzers for residences. And, there's a live band upstage on a platform. The musicians are partially obscured by lights, but they are still an integral part of the action.
During big musical numbers, these super tall piles of luggage light up in varying colors, courtesy of lighting designer Jack Knowles, and spin on an inner platform, with additional props and signage coming down from ropes. But the songs help augment the story, with orchestrations by Lux Pyramid, music supervision by Nick Finlow and Benedict Braxton-Smith and musical direction from Jeffrey Campos. The song "The Hangover Duet," with its ominous, churning tempo, is one of my favorites. Robin and Dougal, after downing too much vodka and champagne, have it out in a talk-singing battle.
The narrative, though, has less to do with the cake mentioned in the show's title than one might think. It's more about self-discovery and being honest with oneself rather than falling head over heels in love. In "What'll it Be," Robin shares that she's a bit lost in her barista existence. She used to have a joie de vivre that's gotten lost in her constant survival mode. Dougal, on the other hand, is so over the moon to be in New York and meet his dad for the first time that he doesn't take a beat to think about how odd it is that he hasn't met him yet or that he wasn't the one to retrieve him from the airport. Both characters have a lot to learn from each other, though this isn't clear to them right away.
And though Dougal and Robin's encounter isn't perfect, it's a wonderfully funny, lovely musical where this audience member couldn't help but root for the pair to be happy and to be true to themselves.