Rosie: A New Musical - Adelphi Theatre

Recently, West End theatres have played host to a growing number of one-night-only concerts and musical premieres. These productions have received a wide range of responses—from standing ovations for last month’s revival of Once On This Island to more measured, and at times scathing, criticism for others. While the premiere of Rosie does not quite fall into the category of failure, it cannot comfortably be called a success either.

This show follows the story of Miss Rosie Boote, the daughter of an Irish performing couple, as she leaves her home in a convent of rural Ireland to pursue the London stage in Edwardian England. Now, I was intrigued by this concept. So much so in fact that the anticipation for this show was incredibly high for this reviewer. From the first few lines, however, one could tell that this production would not even scratch the surface of what it could achieve. It may also be worth saying that whilst the show is supposed to be an Irish story, there were very little hints to that throughout the production. Not in accents or plot.

Danny Kaan

The show does boast some pretty impressive names - from the beloved Hadestown recent graduates Dylan Wood and Desmonda Cathabel to Sally Ann Triplett and Will Callan - and that may be one of its redeeming qualities. The talent on stage is undeniable, made all the more striking by the young Santi Cohen as Young Rosie, who is tasked with opening the show with the first solo number. Her performance is brief but memorable—sweet, sincere, and vocally assured. She is certainly a talent to watch.

As this was a premiere concert production, the costumes weren’t fully developed and there were no sets. That never really is an issue for this reviewer, somehow I actually prefer this format sometimes. I like the idea of having no lavish decors to distract from the clarity of the material and the quality of the performances. In this case, however, the material itself is what most urgently requires attention.

Danny Kaan

Despite some lush and commendable orchestrations, the score quickly becomes repetitive, with many songs blending into one another. The lyrics, similarly, do little to advance the narrative, often circling the same ideas rather than developing them. As a result, the story struggles to gain momentum. If the intention is to appeal to a younger audience with an adult narrative delivered in an almost animated style, then the tone may well resonate—but it risks alienating others.

Moreover, several key dramatic moments are not given the space they need to land effectively. A particularly striking example occurs early on, when Rosie’s father dies suddenly during her eighth birthday celebration. What should be a moment of emotional weight instead feels abrupt and underdeveloped, eliciting little response from the audience. Moments like this point to a book that remains undercooked, compounded by some uneven directorial choices.

Like I said earlier in my review, I was so excited for this production. I desperately love these stories of empowered women beating the odds to achieve the impossible. However, this production of Rosie isn’t ready. Not yet. With a serious rework of the book and lyrics to make it more adaptable to its intended audience, it could reach the heights the story deserves.

Production Value: 40%

Value for Money: 50%

Personal Enjoyment: 50%

Overall Score: 47% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)

(AD | Ticket gifted in exchange for an honest review)

Show Information

Venue: Adelphi Theatre, London

Playing one night only

Run Time: 2h20min - including a 20-minute interval