Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Olivier Award-winner Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift star in a delightfully subversive festive rom-com set in the Big Apple. When an upbeat Brit arrives in New York for his estranged dad’s wedding, he’s met by cynical city-dweller - and sister of the bride - Robin. They say opposites attract, and anything is possible in this “charming” (The Guardian) two-hander musical, which premiered at Kiln Theatre in 2023. It now comes to the West End’s Criterion Theatre for a limited season, so book your tickets early to avoid missing out.
FIND TICKETS
Booking until 14 July 2024
Box Office Contacts
| Box Office: | +44 (0) 333 3202 895 |
| Access Booking: | +44 (0) 20 7839 8811 |
| Group Booking: | 020 7839 8811 |
| Stage Door: | 0207 839 8811 |
History
London’s Criterion Theatre has had a very varied history, “going dark” several times, whilst changing performance genres. Originally built in 1973, the venue was intended as a concert hall, adjoined to a restaurant. Eventually, the decision was made to convert the building into a theatre, with initial productions including An American Lady and Topsyturbeydom (1874), neither of which were huge successes. Soon, the theatre began to host Edwardian musical comedies, a hugely popular genre in the West End at the time.
Under the management of prolific theatre manager Charles Wyndham, who took charge of the theatre between 1875 and 1899, the Criterion began to establish itself as one of London’s more successful venues, with productions such as The Great Divorce Case (1876), Foggerty’s Fairy (1881) and Haste to the Wedding (1892).
The Criterion Theatre continued to house productions between the World Wars, including Musical Chairs, starring John Gielgud, and Terence Rattigan’s French Without Tears (1936), which ran for an impressive 1,039 performances. During World War II, the venue closed down and became a safe studio for the BBC, who broadcasted news and light entertainment.
In the 1970’s, the theatre was threatened with redevelopment, but was met with public protest. Post-War productions included Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (1955) and Anouil’s comedy The Waltz of the Toreadors (1956).
Property tycoon Robert Bourne purchased the theatre in the 1980’s, housing productions such as Tom Foolery (1980-1981), Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay! (1981-1982) and Run for Your Wife (1983-1989).
From 1996 to 2005, the Reduced Shakespeare Company played The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) to rave reviews and acclaim, before being replaced with Jon Buchan’s popular stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, which ran at the theatre for 9 years.
Follow the closure of The 39 Steps, Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Close To You: Bacharach Reimagined (2015-2016) transferred to the Criterion. In 2016, Mischief Theatre’s brand-new comedy The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (2016) transferred and continues to this day. Occasional small productions continue to play alternate performances at the venue, including Mr Popper’s Penguins (2016).
The Criterion Theatre reopened in May 2021, following a year-long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The actor-musician production of Amelie - the Musical opened in the summer with social distancing, before playing to full capacity audiences until September.
In October 2021, Isobel McArthur’s irreverent take on Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) opened at the theatre for an open-ended run that was sadly cut short in February 2022. Drag comedy Death Drop returns to the West End in March for a limited run, starring RuPaul's Drag Race stars Jujubee and Kitty Scott-Claus.
The hugely popular supernatural thriller 2:22 - A Ghost Story transferred to the Criterion for a 4-month run, following sold-out performances at the Noel Coward Theatre and Gielgud Theatre in 2021. In 2023, Steven Moffat's acclaimed comedy The Unfriend transferred from Chichester Festival Theatre, starring Amanda Abbington and Reece Shearsmith. BBC Radio 4's Dickensian comedy Bleak Expectations had a summer season at the venue, followed by Ian Hallard's comedy The Way Old Friends Do, about two friends who form a drag ABBA tribute band, and Derren Brown's Unbelievable.
2024 opened with a West End transfer of The Merchant of Venice 1936, starring Tracy-Ann Oberman, followed by the West End transfer of new musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).
Under the management of prolific theatre manager Charles Wyndham, who took charge of the theatre between 1875 and 1899, the Criterion began to establish itself as one of London’s more successful venues, with productions such as The Great Divorce Case (1876), Foggerty’s Fairy (1881) and Haste to the Wedding (1892).
The Criterion Theatre continued to house productions between the World Wars, including Musical Chairs, starring John Gielgud, and Terence Rattigan’s French Without Tears (1936), which ran for an impressive 1,039 performances. During World War II, the venue closed down and became a safe studio for the BBC, who broadcasted news and light entertainment.
In the 1970’s, the theatre was threatened with redevelopment, but was met with public protest. Post-War productions included Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (1955) and Anouil’s comedy The Waltz of the Toreadors (1956).
Property tycoon Robert Bourne purchased the theatre in the 1980’s, housing productions such as Tom Foolery (1980-1981), Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay! (1981-1982) and Run for Your Wife (1983-1989).
From 1996 to 2005, the Reduced Shakespeare Company played The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) to rave reviews and acclaim, before being replaced with Jon Buchan’s popular stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, which ran at the theatre for 9 years.
Follow the closure of The 39 Steps, Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Close To You: Bacharach Reimagined (2015-2016) transferred to the Criterion. In 2016, Mischief Theatre’s brand-new comedy The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (2016) transferred and continues to this day. Occasional small productions continue to play alternate performances at the venue, including Mr Popper’s Penguins (2016).
The Criterion Theatre reopened in May 2021, following a year-long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The actor-musician production of Amelie - the Musical opened in the summer with social distancing, before playing to full capacity audiences until September.
In October 2021, Isobel McArthur’s irreverent take on Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) opened at the theatre for an open-ended run that was sadly cut short in February 2022. Drag comedy Death Drop returns to the West End in March for a limited run, starring RuPaul's Drag Race stars Jujubee and Kitty Scott-Claus.
The hugely popular supernatural thriller 2:22 - A Ghost Story transferred to the Criterion for a 4-month run, following sold-out performances at the Noel Coward Theatre and Gielgud Theatre in 2021. In 2023, Steven Moffat's acclaimed comedy The Unfriend transferred from Chichester Festival Theatre, starring Amanda Abbington and Reece Shearsmith. BBC Radio 4's Dickensian comedy Bleak Expectations had a summer season at the venue, followed by Ian Hallard's comedy The Way Old Friends Do, about two friends who form a drag ABBA tribute band, and Derren Brown's Unbelievable.
2024 opened with a West End transfer of The Merchant of Venice 1936, starring Tracy-Ann Oberman, followed by the West End transfer of new musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).
