Love Dance is a Rom-com for the Young at Heart
Susan Stanley-Carroll on the latest production at The Chiswick Playhouse
Jacoba Williams and Derek Murphy. Picture: Molly Manning Walker
Susan Stanley-Carroll writes that the - The twists and turns of ‘Love Dance’ hit the spot for the very young at heart.
‘Love Dance’ by Andy Walker and directed by Lesley Manning is a fast moving romantic comedy starring two talented actors and on its first night at the Chiswick Playhouse it was palpable that the young audience was deeply moved by the sweetest of outcomes.
The storyline of this play is slight but gains momentum as it moves towards an unexpected ending. Rose is an ambitious, diligent surgeon yet yearns for a baby. However, she does not want to be involved with the biological father of her future child. Surely she can find someone other than her feckless lodger, an on-off musician Adam? Initially, Rose finds Adam exceptionally irritating.
Derek Murphy gives a strong and sensitive performance as Adam. He is charismatic and exudes oodles of Irish charm - of course he does, he’s from Cork in Southern Ireland! His innate timing pulled much laughter from the young audience.
Jacoba William is beguilingly beautiful as well as being a strong actor. Her luminous eyes exude a range of powerful, genuine emotions as she tries to sort her desire to produce a baby and yet to avoid any form of long term relationship. She has, of course, rejected artificial insemination as she rejected slovenly Adam.
Derek Murphy and Jacoba Williams. Picture: Molly Manning Walker
The chemistry between ‘Adam’ and ‘Rose’ grows: as their onstage bonding develops their moods vibrate. The audience become more and more involved in their shifting relationship due to the unexpected twists and turns of the plot.
Leslie Manning directed the actors expertly and this was particularly apparent in the neat choreography as Rose and Adam whirled around the compact set.
The ending makes up for the static start of this comedy and, on the night I attended, it was palpable that the young audience thoroughly enjoyed this heart-warming romcom!
Susan Stanley-Carroll
‘Love Dance’ is being performed at the Chiswick Playhouse until Saturday 27 November.
Contact the theatre’s Box Office for tickets.
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November 13, 2021