Was "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" Half-Baked?

Hey guys! For those of you just joining, my name is Miren. I’m a teenager born and raised in Manhattan who loves Broadway, and here on Encore By Miren, I share my unfiltered takes on the latest shows, interview people from the industry (coming super super soon!!) and give you a look at Broadway from the perspective of an NYC teen!

Up next is my review of Two Strangers (Car

ry a Cake Across New York).

So, the plot of the show is about two strangers who carry a cake across New York. Kidding! It’s about Robin (an NYC native) and Dougal (this super optimistic British guy who flew in for his estranged dad's wedding). Robin gets dragged into picking Dougal up from the airport and doing last-minute wedding errands for her sister, which includes carrying a huge wedding cake across the city.  

Background

We get this classic "grumpy vs. sunshine" dynamic as Robin tours Dougal all over New York. She does not like him at first, but as they go around the city, they bond, share secrets, and even end up at WoHop, Robin's favorite restaurant in Chinatown, after Dougal accidentally breaks and drops the cake! They do this whole fake wedding roleplay moment there, which was honestly a little too tropy for my liking, but overall it’s a very cute and VERY New York love story.  

It was very sweet, but there’s really nothing super deep to it. It’s not a show where you leave feeling like you experienced something crazy or life-changing (like Death of A Salesman which was AMAZING and heartbreaking)!

The Music & Cast

The score is all original music, and while it’s cute, it’s not particularly lyrically impressive when you compare it to another newer show with completely original music, like Maybe Happy Ending or The Lost Boys. In the grand scheme of things, when you start to think it definitely is in the top half of original music; meaning it was nothing like the terrible music in the notebook on Broadway. It’s definitely closer to something like the Great Gatsby. 

Don't get me wrong, the cast did a great job performing it, but the score just didn't blow me away.

The Production

The set design was very cool! They used stacks of luggage all over the stage, like when Dougal is at the airport terminal. The WoHop set was super fun, too, and I have to say, that was definitely my favorite part because of how quintessentially “New York” it was! 

Overall…

The show is very cute and I was entertained watching it! I definitely didn't walk out at intermission like I’ve done with a few other shows! If you want a fun, low-stakes outing with friends or family, it’s a cute watch just don't go in expecting something deeply moving or unforgettable.

Have you seen Two Strangers? What did you think of the score? Drop your takes in the comments below!

Rating: 7/10