One Day: The Musical theatre review – Wonders of ordinary life
A dynamic and captivating musical take on the novel which broke countless hearts
As a novelist, one of the things David Nicholls does best is demanding investment in his characters. Anyone reading One Day since its 2009 publication will have sat alongside Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew as they grew from fresh-faced graduates to thirtysomethings and longed for a good outcome. So if there was one thing this musical adaptation needed to do, it was to make us care about ‘Em and Dex’. That box was ticked with permanent marker and for a number of reasons.
Firstly, Nicholls knew what he was doing when he created this dynamic duo. Their magnetic attraction (which keeps pulling them back together under the pretext of friendship, while romance waits patiently in the wings) is equally captivating to us. And, in the hands of Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose, our engagement is signed and sealed. Muscato’s Dexter is lost, occasionally loathsome but ultimately loveable while Rose’s Emma is principled and strong but with a sweet, vulnerable underbelly. Both demonstrate vocal prowess, quick wits and a capacity for emotional depth (no spoilers here if you’re unfamiliar with the story, but arriving without tissues is sheer folly).
Set on the same day each year, from graduation in 1988 to fully fledged adulthood in 2008, One Day is like watching life in fast forward; recognisable touchstones that punctuate the years where you’re searching for love, a career and yourself are all here. Writer David Greig, director Max Webster, set designer Rae Smith, and choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille have found countless innovative ways to root this musical in theatricality, rather than straying into ‘jazz hands’ territory. Meanwhile, the music and lyrics of Abner and Amanda Ramirez takes us on a journey of musical styles, keeping the vibe fresh and interesting. Setting the show in the round also helps it achieve the same result as Nicholls’ book, drawing us tightly into the worlds of Em, Dex and friends for a bold, 20-year celebration of the wonders of ordinary life.
One Day: The Musical, Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sunday 19 April; picture: Marc Brenner.
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