This Broadway show is a quirky musical set around the eternally awkward situation of a blind date. Aaron and Casey have been fixed up by mutual friends and family but will the two strangers find love and happiness, or will it be another romance killed before it even starts?

It would be bad enough with just the two of them but when the date is also haunted by a host of other people (past and present) who are all more than willing to stick their oar in, the evening becomes a catalogue of pitfalls and blunders.

There is Casey’s smug-coupled sister Lauren, two of Casey’s disastrous exes, and her best friend Reggie whose role is to call her with the ‘bail out’ excuse. While on Aaron’s team we meet his ultra-orthodox Jewish family, the ex-girlfriend Allison who broke his heart, and his best friend Gabe who constantly reminds him ‘don’t mention the ex’.

Written by Austin Winsberg and based on some first-hand experiences, First Date is a fun show with lots of wit and sharp character observations as well as plenty of agonizing situations we all recognise. It's also packed full of both comedic but also sometimes touchingly sad songs by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner.

Taking place at the Old Joint Stock Theatre and designed by Joanne Marshall, the production makes great use of the space. The audience enter the door to be welcomed by the same waiter who will be serving the blind daters and the tables are within touching distance. Furthermore the different cast members frequently speak directly to audience members so we all feel part of the evening out.

The cast of five are kept busy and are on stage for much of the two-hour production. Michali Dantes gives us a gentle somewhat shy Aaron who tells Casey immediately that he is an ‘open book’ and is disarmingly honest with her. But he also has some hidden waters which when stirred by painful memories show us a much feistier side.

Rokaya’s Casey is the tough exterior been-around-the-block blind dater who demands to be impressed. She is a dab hand at the eye-rolling look of dismissal which would wither many men across the table. But, of course, underneath that hard exterior is just a girl wanting to find love.

Joey Warne gives a larger-than-life performance as the waiter/wannabe musical hall entertainer. Providing much of the humour, he plays up to the role and his big number as he entertains the guests with I’d Order Love really is a showstopper.

Lowri Hamer’s various roles include the evil ex Allison in which she pouts and preens, confident Aaron cannot resist her, and she is also Casey’s sister who isn’t afraid of telling a few home-truths.

Tom Kiteley is hugely adaptable as he switches between characters including gay best friend Reggie who panics when Casey doesn’t answer his calls as well as Aaron’s plain-spoken best friend.

The cast give it their all with good chemistry between them. The only disappointment is that at the performance I attended a couple of the characters were difficult to hear at times.

Directed by Old Joint Stock Theatre manager James Edge with associate director Emily Susanne Lloyd and choreographed by Ellie Begley, the production isn’t afraid to send itself up. There is a lot of fun to be had from the different commentators and scenarios although there is a risk that some of those parts become so stereotypical they lose the sharp edge of humour.

The live music under the direction of Callum Thompson takes place off-stage which is a shame as it’s nice to see the performers but there simply isn’t room in the theatre space for the band and it doesn’t affect the sound quality.

There’s lots of energy to the show and you can’t help but wish the seemingly unlikely couple on to see past the surface and discover that their connections are greater than their differences. As a wry look at love in the modern age, the production is timely, hugely entertaining and in the perfect space.

Four stars

Reviewed by Diane Parkes at The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham. First Date continues to show at the venue until Sunday 25 August.