Live Theatre
Love is not all hearts & flowers. These three short plays deliver a beautifully crafted glimpse into its many facets. Performed by a stellar cast of Imogen Stubbs, Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock, Laila Zaidi & accompanied from the minimalist stage by composer/musician Me Lost Me (AKA Jayne Dent), we are treated to three tales as old as time that are accompanied by some beautiful music.
The first performance is ‘The start of
space’ by Laura Lindow. An emotional piece that gives insight into the life of
Dr McGill (Stubbs). An experienced surgeon dealing with matters of the physical
heart, we watch her encounter with a sick child awaiting a transplant. Dr
McGill’s sometimes troubled & certainly tragic private life is revealed
through lively conversation with her young patient. This is a moving piece,
superbly delivered, that pulls at our heart strings.
Next up is ‘fangirl, or the justification
of limerence’ by Naomi Obeng. This is a faster moving piece that looks at Clara
(Zaidi) & her infatuation with a popstar she refers to as ‘God’.
Worshipping fervently at the shrine of her musical deity (portrayed beautifully
with veils & music) Clara’s devotion is unwavering even when it comes to
light that ‘Gods’ behaviour may well be erring on the side of deviant. Clara chooses to turn on his accuser. This piece
is an accurate observation of our sometimes toxic digital world. A world where
celebrity can be created overnight & torn down the next day & anxiety
is induced by separation from our devices & by being too involved with
them.
Last but definitely not least, we have
‘with the love of neither God nor state’ by Vici Wreford-Sinnott. Transported
to Northvale social club (the heart of the community & firmly placed within
the community’s heart) shutting it’s doors for the last time before it reopens
transformed into a food bank. Thea (Stubbs) is trying to involve the members in
a fundraising night when 21 year old Greta Stone (Glendinning-Laycock) arrives
on the doorstep, never having been out alone at night & having been assured
Thea has a heart of gold. Clearly needing help Theas warms to the vulnerable
Greta who tells her ‘normally I am somewhere, not nowhere’ We are given insight
into their developing relationship which is beautifully bitter sweet. This
piece is a reflection of the society we now live in, with a need for food banks
& a need to understand disability (in all its forms) far better.
I would have loved to see more from these
characters. I became invested in their beautifully written & expertly
delivered stories & wanted to know what happened next? Each of these pieces
would, I’m sure, Make for superb full length pieces. Directors Jack McNamara
& Bex Bowsher did a good job of bringing the pieces to life. The audience
was certainly moved & given food for thought.
Three acts of love runs until Saturday December 16th.
*Images courtesy of Live Theatre
Alison Stanley
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