Gone too soon: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A beautiful, enthralling, heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking story combined gorgeous sweeping toe tapping songs, performed by a multi-talented multi-rolling, multi musical instrument playing cast, all wrapped up in a message of embracing the life that you have and making the most of every second. It was the show that swept in, made a bold statement and won pretty much everyone over, so why is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button already gone from our beloved west end, after an all too short run of one year and one day?

Benjamin Button was born old, forced by some strange twist of both fate and time, to live out his life in reverse. But he embraces it, taking life by the horns and living it for all it is worth. Through his curious existence, he encounters love, war, loss, confusion and acceptance through the ups and the downs, and the audience see it all as a wondrous fantastical adventure that reminds us to simply live and make the most of what we are given.

Shows, even those as beautiful as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, do come and go in the overall merry go around that is the west end and its venue availability levels, but the loss of this show felt as if it left a dent, a hole, especially when you see the sweet little sea washed shed that was the warm and welcoming Pickled Crab still sat in the alley between the Ambassadors Theatre and its neighbour, the St Martins.

You could say that shows would close up shop if it wasn’t selling well, if the theatre was laden with empty seats and quiet houses, but this wasn’t the case as far as I could see with Benjamin Button. This was a show that was loved, and I would see the house full sign outside the theatre more often then not.

Clare Foster and Benedict Salter

Clare Foster and Matthew burns

I try to think of reasons why this show seemed to have such a short run when, in my opinion, it could have and should have extended again and again but nothing jumps out at me and screams yes, that’s the reason. Could it be that fans of the film the show is based on booked expecting to see an exact replica of the film on stage to instead be greeted by a folk inspired musical set in around a quaint Cornish fishing village? Could it be that people thought the story just a tad too unrealistic and fantastical, focusing on the strange tale of a man aging in reverse instead of the message at the show’s heart? Or could you simply say it’s down to the cost of living but, then again, you could say that about any show that closes.

I don’t know, all mere speculation but, to put it simply, I believe that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button had the potential, had the backing of fans, to run and run. Fans so dedicated, in fact, that a loyalty card programme was launched, rewarding audience members for the amount of times they saw the show. Therefore, you can imagine the sadness when it was announced that the show would be closing after just over a year.

Just like we will never know what caused Benjamin to be born old and to age backwards, we will never know why The Curious Case of Benjamin Button had such a short lifespan at the Ambassadors theatre even with the awards and audience praise that it had to its name. But we can hope that it will come storming back one day, be that in London once more or shipping out on tour. Now if only someone would set that chain of events in motion, it could be all just a matter of time.