Lovestruck production image. Photo by Mark Senior.Conceived and written by James Cooper with music provided by Bryn Christopher with Martin Batchelar, the relatable comic yarn concerns a hardworking, well-liked NHS nurse Lucy and her disappointing experience using apps to find love. Peter too seems to be one of life’s endearing losers as his City slicker landlord/flat-mate David makes him homeless whilst simultaneously offering clichéd romance advice (thick skin, wide grin).
Eventually though, Peter and Lucy set a date to meet — perhaps somewhat unconventionally, at a Mexican restaurant. Lucy’s self-doubt manifests as a negative conscience agony aunt Miseraie (the embodiment of an envied former school chum Cassandra), who gets in her head by feeding dubious advice. Cautioned against eating anything but a salad and in particular, urged to avoid the spicy beef burrito, Lucy goes for broke! Later, when the enamoured couple get back to Peter’s new pad, Lucy’s gurgling stomach puts paid to romantic notions and necessitates an urgent bathroom break, where matters go from bad, to frankly mortifying.
The scatological misadventure quickly escalates into a farcical situation requiring assistance. It also results in a media posting, viral meme and unwelcome notoriety, contributing considerably to Lucy’s doubts and low self-esteem. Fear not however, love determinedly wins the day as kindness, generosity of spirit, and a general surfeit of saccharine conspire to bring the wannabe lovebirds together.
First off, Jessica Boshier who was due to play Lucy, sustained an injury during rehearsals, leaving Ambra Caserotti to gamely step into the role on press night and I have to report that she performed the part magnificently. Shane O’Riordan’s lilting tenor tremolo as Peter, was a perfect partner to Ms Caserotti’s timbre and wholesome likability, leaving the remaining cast members to imbue their supporting parts with plenty of energetic playfulness and villainy during the musical numbers, which arrive thick and fast like jolly, upbeat Eurovision Song Contest entries. It’s not perfect writing, with a host of poorly rhymed couplets like Become a cat lady, get ten maybe which would conspire to make a Sondheim fan wince, but that is not really where this bundle of fun is pitched.
If we’re picking holes, Cooper’s book can be a little amateurish and woolly in terms of character motivations, which perhaps lead to Alison Steadman’s recorded narration to fill in the gaps. However, the combined songs serve to effect an uplifting, fun and thoroughly entertaining show. Similar to Why Am I So Single, the small cast works its socks off to land Reece’s outlandishly camp moments, mixed with deadpan delivery from the Burrito waitress and the bizarre jollity of a straight male-on-male song and dance number between Peter and the Estate Agent who shows him around his new, cramped gaff. And don’t even get me started on the anthropomorphic dancing cats!
With further tightening from director Jamie Morton and choreographer Chi-San Howard, this utterly charming show with set and costumes by Tom Rogers deserves to fill every seat at Stratford East during its run, and makes a strong candidate for a tour, perhaps even a West End transfer.
Cast:
Bridgette Amofah as Cassandra / Miseraie
Marcus Ayton as Reece
Jessica Boshier as Lucy (once healed)
Ambra Caserotti as Lucy (cover)
Callum Connolly as Estate Agent
Holly Liburd as Waitress / TV Interviewer
Johan Munir as David
Shane O'Riordan as Peter
with Jessica Hunt in ensemble roles.
Plays at Stratford East until 12 July.
