Love, Love, Love (WYP, 06/04/11)

Ben Addis (Kenneth) & Lisa Jackson (Sandra)

Another one of those plays I entered into knowing little except what was in the theatre brochure when I booked it a couple of months ago, Love, Love, Love turned out to be an utterly wonderful experience. Written by Mike Bartlett in 2010, it's a play in 3 acts, each separated by an interval, the first act is set in 1967, the second 1990 and the final 2011. The play follows Kenneth and Sandra from their initial meeting, when she was Ken's brother's girlfriend, in the '60's on the night of the One World event that was broadcast live across the globe, to 1990 on the night their marriage falls apart in front of their teenage children, and finally to the present as their screwed up kids Rose and Jamie watch them potentially reunite in their twilight years. 

Each character is played by the same actor from ages 19 to 60+ and rather than using distracting make up, the character's dress and subtle changes in body language signal the onset of the years. After the performance we stayed for a question and answer session with the cast of 5, and it was really interesting to hear their views on the characters, as well as to hear other audience members express, for example, dismay at the cliches in the 60's set segment, or decry the liberal use of drinking, smoking and drug references, as well as praising the acting talent and the writing. 

I found Love, Love, Love to be an immensely relatable play, whether set in the 60s (where the freedoms that university can bring, and the optimism for the future rang bells), or the present (Rose has a rant at her parents about them having it easy and her life being so hard, she can't afford a house and wants them to buy her one - I see this wanting to have things given to you on a plate in society today). It's also very funny, particulaly in Lisa Jackson's portrayal of Sandra, who's forever with a glass of wine in her hand, but never falls into an Absolutely Fabulous parody. As a whole, the play was involving, witty and very relevant, and I would be happy to watch it again.