REVIEW | Three Acts of Love, Live Theatre Newcastle
Written by Stacy
Disclaimer: gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
How do you define love? In the most delightful way? Or with a hint of tragedy? Maybe both, with a sprinkle of desperation in there for good measure. Live Theatre's Three Acts Of Love explores the many different incarnations of love, in this collection of works by three writers Laura Lindow, Naomi Obeng, and Vici Wreford-Sinnott.
Each piece has its very own identity, within the writing, performance, and direction. Making each short theatrical experience, its very own entity. Only linked by a beautiful, but often haunting soundtrack by 'Me Lost Me (Jayne Dent)' that flows throughout, acting like the beating heart underscoring the performances.
Something that didn't flow as smoothly as the show’s sound design, was Amy Watts' layered set. This set produced a disjointed feel to the piece and created clunky movements and moments for the actors, that distracted from the narrative of all three pieces. Three pieces, that overall felt as un-even as the stage itself.
Bringing to life these very unique and different stories of love; 'The Start of Space' by Laura Lindow 'Fangirl, or the Justification of Limerence' by Naomi Obeng and 'With the Love of neither God nor State' by Vici Wreford - Sinnott, were a three-strong cast of Imogen Stubbs, Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock and Laila Zaidi' . Each leads a story, as well as providing support in the other pieces. All three gave solid performances, with a stand-out performance coming from Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock in ‘With the Love of neither God nor State’. I felt this piece had the most substance to draw the audience in, finishing the evening off, strong. The dynamic between Stubbs and Glendenning-Laycock worked perfectly to deliver a compelling and thought-provoking piece.
Three Acts of Love provides food for thought, and moments of poignancy but collectively as a whole, it didn't connect well as a cohesive piece.
☆ ☆ ☆
