Review: NO LOVE SONGS, Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Photo credit: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
After Marry Me a Little and Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York, the prospect of another piece of musical theatre depicting a growing relationship might have raised the spectre of more of the same. That was not in fact the case with No Love Songs at Southwark Playhouse, a beautifully written and sensitively performed piece of what the company describe as gig theatre.
The story is told through the songs of Kyle Falconer, who came to notice as part of The View and also produced the original idea for the piece with his partner Laura Wilde. Much of the action seems to mirror aspects of their real life together, but the key to the success of the book for this performance is the collaboration between Wilde and writer (and Scots panto supremo) Johnny McKnight. The resulting script tells the story of a fast-burgeoning relationship between Lana and Jessie that hits the rocks after a child is born, and then an American tour leaves Lana alone with the new baby.
It becomes clear that this relationship never really fused before the baby was born, and the resulting tensions after the birth threaten to blow it apart. All this is told not just through a snappy, fast-moving, authentic and touching script, but is illuminated by the songs written by Falconer. Directors Andrew Panton and Tashi Gore, parents themselves, create a convincing and engrossing world of new parenthood with two actors, a musician and an assortment of flight cases and speakers. The production is from Dundee Rep, and deserves a much longer run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, a venue for which it is well suited.
Musical director Gavin Whitworth not only accompanies on keyboards (and sometimes percussion at the same time) but also manages to interact with the cast in a way which is both subtle and genuinely innovative: a clever touch. As Jessie, John McLarnon accompanies himself on guitar but also sings his heart out as his character’s shortcomings are exposed. It is a deliberately brash but truthful performance, full of detail and dawning understanding.
Anna Russell-Martin plays Lana, who we see one moment as a carefree youngster going clubbing and then as a new mother struck down with post-natal depression. It’s a remarkable performance; she seems to change before our eyes even though she only ties her hair back: although the changes in mood are also greatly enhanced by Grant Anderson’s lighting. Russell-Martin holds the audience in the palm of her hand from her first words: her engagement with the audience is total.
In a short 75 minutes, we see this relationship crumble and then – perhaps – find a way back. It is a perfect amalgamation of songs and book, delivered by an expert cast in a production that is to be admired. Our thanks to Southwark Playhouse for bringing this Dundee Rep production to London – another reminder of the theatrical riches to be found beyond the south-east of England.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Chris Abbott
No Love Songs plays at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 15 June, with further info here.
