‘Two Strangers’ one of 2025’s best musicals

‘TWO STRANGERS’: Christiani Pitts & Sam Tutty. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)
Book, music & lyrics by Jim Barne & Kit Buchan
Directed & choreographed by Tim Jackson
Through July 5, 2026
Longacre Theatre
220 West 48th Street
https://twostrangersmusical.com/

By Scott Harrah

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York ) is a rare gem indeed. It’s an original “rom com” Broadway musical that’s realistic, poignant, and never sappy or corny. After a successful run in London’s West End, the two-hander has opened in New York. Let’s look at why it works so well.

Unlikely match

The entire story takes place over a 36-hour time period. Dougal (Sam Tutty) is a bright-eyed, naïve British tourist who has traveled to New York and the USA for the first time to attend his father’s second wedding.

He soon learns that life here is nothing like the Hollywood depiction of our city as portrayed by Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in Singin’ in the Rain. By the same token, it’s also not exactly Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra pursuing Vera-Ellen and Betty Garrett in On the Town. Dougal says he especially loves Home Alone 2 and believes that in New York “everything comes with a smile, a high five, and a slice of cheese.”

However, even if New York was actually like anything in those classic films, Dougal is so broke that he can’t afford the entrance fees to most tourist attractions, let alone a proper date with a woman.

Robin (Christiani Pitts) is the baby sister of the bride Dougal’s father is marrying. A spunky, no-nonsense New Yorker, she works as a barista and wastes no time giving the cold shoulder to Dougal both at JFK Airport and later at Bump and Grind, the café where she works.  She tells him she needs to take the subway out to Flatbush, Brooklyn, to pick up her sister’s wedding cake, and Dougal insists on going with her.

Carrying the cake across New York

Dougal soon learns that Flatbush isn’t just where the wedding cake is being created. It’s also the part of Brooklyn where Robin grew up, reminiscing to him about her childhood there and regaling him with nostalgic stories of her youth.

What makes everything work is the dynamic chemistry between Mr. Tutty and Ms. Pitts. On the stage, they seem like an odd couple indeed, but sparks ignite slowly and not in a hackneyed way like so many rom-coms.

Nevertheless, although Two Strangers has all the formulaic elements of a standard romantic comedy—a guy pursuing a girl and the girl isn’t immediately interested—this show isn’t like some half-baked Hallmark movie or schmaltzy Harlequin romance novel. Composer Jim Barne’s lush melodies and Kit Buchan’s true-to-life dialogue and emotionally powerful lyrics are full of realism and grit. One may have to suspend disbelief that Dougal and Robin would fall for each other in just 36 hours, but just go with the story. Everything simply works beautifully.

Innovative scenic, sound design & lighting

Soutra Gilmour’s unique, simplistic set, great lighting by Jack Knowles, and Tony Gayle’s sharp sound design also make Two Strangers especially innovative. The set features two rotating heaps of airline luggage that are designed to resemble the Manhattan skyline. The luggage piles also serve multiple functions, including a place for the actors to climb on or sit.

Ms. Gilmour’s costumes are also delightful, especially the glamorous dresses Robin wears in Act Two.

Dynamic duo

Turning to performances, the two young leads are perhaps the show’s greatest asset. Together, Ms. Pitts and Mr. Tutty are a brilliant “misfit” couple, as unlikely as Satine and Christian in Moulin Rouge or Sandy and Danny in Grease. Ms. Pitts portrays Robin with the perfect arc of the character, starting out as a jaded, overworked, and cynical woman who eventually sheds her hard shell and opens up to Dougal. Mr. Tutty brings the right mix of guileless charm and sincerity to Dougal, a young lad who at first seems annoying but ultimately shows he has a big heart. The duo are pure magic together singing such songs as “On the App” and “New York/What’ll It Be.”

With seamless direction by Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) shines throughout. The haunting score and strong book by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan help make the show a “sleeper” surprise delight and one of the year’s best musicals.

Published November 20, 2025
Reviewed at press preview on November 15, 2025

‘TWO STRANGERS’: Christiani Pitts & Sam Tutty. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘TWO STRANGERS’: Christiani Pitts & Sam Tutty. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘TWO STRANGERS’: Christiani Pitts & Sam Tutty. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘TWO STRANGERS’: Christiani Pitts & Sam Tutty (top left & bottom); (top right) Sam Tutty. Photos: Matthew Murphy.

‘TWO STRANGERS’: Sam Tutty & Christiani Pitts (top left & bottom); (top right) Christiani Pitts. Photos: Matthew Murphy.