Book and lyrics: Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe
based upon the screenplay for ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ by Aditya Chopra
Music: Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani
Director: Aditya Chopra
Aditya Chopra wrote and directed Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the film upon which Come Fall In Love is based. The film is so popular fans refer to it as ‘DDLJ’ and, indeed, Come Fall In Love is promoted as ‘The DDLJ musical’. As Chopra is directing the new musical it is safe to assume the transition from screen to stage meets with his approval. He has, however, widened the appeal of the source material by enlisting authors and lyricists Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe, who have a strong background in musicals, and altered the nationality of one of the principal characters from Indian to British so Raj becomes Roger.
The source material is, however, far from forgotten. Key scenes from the movie are printed on the theatre curtain and, to the audible delight of fans, are reproduced onstage. Come Fall In Love is a show that tries very hard to please the audience.
Simran (Jena Pandya) is a dutiful daughter and devoted student who obeys the strict rules of her father, Baldev (Irvine Iqbal). Although she is subject to an arranged marriage to Kuljit (Kinshuk Sen) Simran is romantic and a strong believer in true love. Fellow student Roger (Ashley Day) is a roguish underachiever who gets by on his charm which is wasted upon Simran, who due to Roger’s antics, falls into disgrace for the first time in her life.
Simran is dismayed when best friend Cookie (Millie O’Connell) brings her boyfriend on their planned girls’ trip around Europe and he also brings a friend- Roger. Simran’s planned intellectual tour is disrupted by Roger’s introduction to the sensual delight of food and sweets. Roger reveals unexpected sensitivity and hidden depths and by the time the trip is over the two are in love which is rotten timing as Simran is leaving for India to get married. Convinced he can charm Simran’s parents (her father in particular) into accepting him as a substitute groom Roger leaves for India in hot pursuit.
This is very much a show of two cultures – act one is European, the music featuring power chords and Rob Ashford’s choreography has swinging hips and bottoms. Act two is decidedly Indian – the colours are brighter even garish, and the dancing more stylised- arms pumping rapidly upwards as if holding up the sky.
Jena Pandya and Ashley Day create enormously appealing characters but do not convince as a couple. This is not the fault of the actors – despite the title Come Fall In Love is curiously low on romance. Neither of the characters gets to sing a big love ballad proclaiming their devotion to the other. The affection in the lyrics is directed more towards family and home than individuals. The title song is less a show-stopping love song and more a travelogue- in act one proclaiming the joys of Europe and in act two welcoming visitors to India.
Come Fall In Love has characters with a complexity that is unusual in musicals. Far from being a clichéd insensitive patriarch the indignities endured by hard-working Baldev and his longing for his homeland prompt sympathy. Traumatised by his parents’ unhappy marriage Roger refuses to court Simran without first securing the approval of her parents as he is terrified he might be the cause of family discontent. Yet, typical of the uneven nature of the show, other characters are drawn broadly – fiancé Kuljit is comically obsessed with European lifestyles and luxuries. The subtlety of the characterisation is absent from the storyline where events unfold in an almost fairy-tale manner.
Director Aditya Chopra delivers a lavish, even spectacular, show but seems less comfortable with the comedy aspects. The humour works best when arising from the traits of the characters- Kara Laine’s predatory mature woman or Kinshuk Sen’s sweetly juvenile and shallow fiancé. When the humour arises from the situations it is as much funny peculiar as funny ha-ha. It looks weird when an intoxicated Simran dances/wrestles with a stuffed bear and the antics of the hotel staff are irritating rather than amusing.
The scene-setting technology employed by video designer Akhila Krishnan is cutting edge and really does leave one stunned at what can be achieved on stage these days. Subtle moments like a realistic flock of pigeons and a show-stopping moving train bring a mouth-watering sophistication to the show.
With a large talented and highly committed cast, appealing central characters and gorgeous designs Come Fall In Love will delight existing fans and has potential to win new ones. If the time allowed for the uneven humour could be used instead for a big love song to build up the romance aspects, the show would be unstoppable.
Runs until 21 June 2025
The Reviews Hub Score
Almost unstoppable
