He’s the son of the groom he has never met. She’s the sister of the much-younger bride. Together they are the main characters in Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York,) a charming new musical by Jim Barne & Kit Buchan. She is Robin (Christiani Pitts) whose task it is to pick up the visitor from London at the airport. He is Dougal (Sam Tutty) and they meet unceremoniously when he bumps into her. He’s a chore that she’s doing for her sister for whom she feels a sense of obligation.

Despite his naive exuberance, she’s grumpy and no-nonsense and wants to drop him off as quickly as possible. He is deliriously joyful at being in the city he only knows from movies and meeting the man who left before he was even born. Dougal shares his glee in his opening song “New York” where he makes plans for his short visit. The music by Barnes and Buchan is available on the musical’s website. If you only have limited time, check out the first song and you may find yourself hooked.

Robin is stuck in a dead-end coffee house job, unhappy with her life. Can Dougal’s happiness and wonderful demeanor break through her walls? What will happen when he finally meets his father? Despite her attempts to push him away, he doesn’t take the hint and just keeps popping up. When she’s tasked with going to Brooklyn to pick up the obscenely expensive wedding cake for the wedding the next day, he insists on tagging along. Later Dougal even helps Robin text with a guy she met on Tinder.

However, there are things we don’t know. Why isn’t she invited to her own sister’s wedding? If his father doesn't know he’s there, how was he invited? Do we expect a happy ever after ending for them?

With direction and choreography by Tim Jackson, the musical begins with the ingenious set design by Soutra Gilmour. Two piles of aluminum luggage stacked upon themselves are piled up precariously in the airport baggage pickup area while Dougal’s bag circles around the stage. Later those same stacks of luggage open and are used as props for drawers, tables, storage and other creative uses.

As Dougal, Tutty is so smiley that his happiness is contagious. Sitting in the midst of the audience I found myself smiling back. His character’s use of movie lines (we learn later that he works in a movie theater) are funny. He’s like a smiling, naive child with a joyful zest for life, thrilled at being in New York and even more so at finally meeting the dad he doesn’t know. We are pulling for him, hoping it will go well but fearing things might not work out so well. He’s impossibly upbeat but Robin knows the truth about his father and keeps trying to disillusion the young man.Yet like Dougal, we all remain hopeful and optimistic. Lovely Pitts is talented and despite Robin’s reserve, manages to win the audience over.

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) with its awkward title is a pleasant surprise. It’s a small musical on a big stage and yet manages to fill the entire theater. With only two main characters with endearing personalities and superb voices singing some wonderful songs, it is easily one of the nicest theatrical experiences I’ve had in a long time.