Curious Case of Benjamin Button review: A sweet and folksy musical that wants to go to Broadway

Two hours and 40 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission.At the Public Theater.Much as Benjamin Button ages backwards from elderly to infant, the new musical “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” also starts off unrecognizably from where it ultimately winds up.

From annoying to beautiful.That stark reversal could be because its style, folksy and verbose Paul Bunyan-ish exposition in overeager group songs, takes some getting used to.But truth be told, that often confusing and self-satisfied aspect never grew on me.The sweet show from London with a new American cast that opened Wednesday night at the Public Theater with Broadway aspirations improves, and staggeringly so, in the second half when many of the side characters and story-theater shtick get the heave-ho and its rich romantic leads are allowed to live and breathe more freely and honestly.They’re Benjamin, played from tomb to womb by Andrew Durand, and his life-long love Elowen, earthily portrayed by Kelsee Kimmel.  That pair of actors and their earnest passion, which radiate genuine love for each other rather than the hopped-up theatrical suggestion of it, is “Button”’s greatest asset and enough of a reason to recommend this very sincere show. But it takes a while for the material and director Jethro Compton’s production to calm down and find that focus. Most will know F.

Scott Fitzgerald’s short story from David Fincher’s movie starring Brad Pitt. Composer Darren Clark and book writer Compton (both co-wrote the lyrics) have moved the action from Baltimore in the US to coastal Cornwall, England, and changed the commencement point from 1860 to 1918. That’s smart.For one, during the First World War, millions of British children lost their dads.

Kids had to grow up fast — not unlike Benjamin.And then there’s the acoustic, sad-happy, pub music of that time, which makes up this lush, Celtic-adjacent score.

But most importantly, what could be more surreal than Britain reeling from...