Entertainment

Theatre Review: Love

The overall impression of this production is not to show that love is something that occurs even to the poorest and is not just the uplifting thing it is often shown to be, but the impression that the world is a depressing place where nothing will fix the problems of those in the clutch of drugs.

Presented by Students Society University of Adelaide Theatre Guild
Reviewed 19 Sept 2019

After a confusing 15-minute delay, this new play by Patricia Cornelius started without a clearly established location. Later it could be assumed that the scene was set in a prison, although it is true the setting was not really important. The characters are the lynchpin of this tale, but I don’t think the story achieves the stated intent of the director; unsensitised characters that dwell in the “intersection of poverty, addiction and desire”.

Despite strong performances by Aaran Beattie, Lilli Cheyne and Jean Louise Collins, the characters directed by Beatrice Blackwell still appear too clean, too in control to be believable as the sort of addicts they represent. It is difficult to say if this is a result of the direction or the writing.

The overall impression of this production for me was not to show that love is something that occurs even to the poorest and is not just the uplifting thing it is often shown to be, but the impression that the world is a depressing place where nothing will fix the problems of those in the clutch of drugs.

I have seldom found a production more depressing.

Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds

Venue: Little Theatre, University of Adelaide
Season: 19-21 Sept 2019
Duration: 80mins
Tickets: $15

Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/book/sessions?eid=464125

Little Theatre, University of Adelaide Theatre Guild, Student Society AU, Patricia Cornelius, Beatrice Blackwell, Aaran Beattie, Lilli Cheyne, Jean Louise Collins,

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