I write this as I still emotionally recover from the mental wreckage this show put me through. The music, acting, and adjusted storyline all evoked a response from me that I had not prepared for going into the theatre. At least with my other shows I went in knowing I would get emotional; here, I had no choice but to sit unexpectedly as the knife was driven into my heart. (I complain as if the soundtrack isn’t playing in my headphones at this moment) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is like nothing I have ever experienced. This production somehow felt like watching best friends invite me into their living room as they performed, but it was also so well produced that the screen-like view from my seat made me forget I was watching live people. Truly, for any readers, I can not recommend this musical more.
I would also like to add that the English major in me had a particularly great time, since this was a terrible adaptation of the original text. However, as the incredible Professor Szwydky said in my adaptation course last fall, exact text-to-medium adaptation is not only boring, it is impossible. Therefore, I did not find it necessary to stick to the cannon of the short story. When transferring written media to a stage like this, there are so many more elements that have to be added for the functionality of the production: lighting, music, costuming, stage design, etc. However, what makes The Curious Case of Benjamin Button so special is that all of these choices intentionally try to create a completely new layer to the original story. Honestly, the only part of the story that was the same was Benjamin aging backwards, but it ultimately felt like a more whole tale.
Below is a list of my favorite additions/ changes from the original story:
- Music- the sea shanty/ Cornish folk music was so easy to become enraptured in. The music was fun, the vocal performances were incredible, and asking the audience to join in the closing song highlight such a beautiful theme of community
- Elowen- Just Elowen. Her storyline, her acting performance, her voice. Someone give my ginger queen an Olivier PRONTO. I was right next to her when her actress was taking a picture with us, and I was literally shaking btw.
- The village characters (particularly the Gladstones)- These little side quests were hilarious. Not only did they not feel forced, they became almost integral.
- INCLUSION OF WOMEN- The exploration of Benjamin’s mother (who was not even named by Fitzgerald) and the character development of Elowen (beyond the disposable girlfriend trope) modernized the classic in a way that helped me connect to the story more.
- More context to the phenomenon- While there is no explanation for the science or magic as to why Benjamin was born abnormally, there is an indication that it was connected to the sea and moon, and it shows that more than just Benjamin was affected.
By the end of the musical I had cried, laughed, and nearly broken out into dance in my seat. The themes of community, accepting your abnormalities, not letting your insecurities hurt those around you, and love/found family creates a production that kisses a brick and then throws it at you.
Theatre in London U of A 