Creating a romantic lead who is a dentist is a bold move – dentists are often strict (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) or sadistic (Little Shop of Horrors). But playwright Abi Morgan is not afraid; her dentist is blunt, practical – and devoted to his wife.
In ‘Lovesong’ we simultaneously follow one couple, played by four actors, at the beginning and end of their time together, repeatedly weaving on and off stage (in numerous creative ways). Whilst the looming decline in health of Maggie sets the play for a teary conclusion, do not assume that time on stage is dominated by illness and loss. Apollo Theatre’s opening season production has so much to say about the nature of love – at all ages, through all weathers, and how remarkable it is to stick with love through the decades, even when it is at its most demanding.
Newly-weds Margaret (another spirited performance by Hebe Gregory-Pimm) and dentist William (performed with ease by Daniel Pressey, with a touch of the Ryan Gosling about him!) move to America. They set up house and a business, argue about money and grow old together – an inescapable fact for the audience, as the older and younger versions watch each other, explore memories and even tenderly slow dance. The casting is superb: assembling actors who both look and act as the same character, but forty years apart is no mean feat!
We tend to think of a ‘love song’ as benchmarking the excitement of the start of a relationship – but this play explores the pressures, pain and yearning as we move towards the end of our lives. Following Maggie navigate her illness (a performance with great vulnerability by Ellen Weeks) through forcing Billy to come to terms with the enormity of his impending loss, the audience delight in seeing memories – like ghosts – come alive as the older and younger characters move together on stage. The bickering of an older couple is balanced with the – more passionate – bickering of the younger couple. “I hate you… I hate you too!” they both exclaim, like only people truly in love do.
The set is brilliant – the actors are constantly travelling through wardrobes, walls and many other innovative routes (which I will not spoil). But it is the touching performances which really hit home. Phillip Griffiths had some of the best lines – his exasperated speech towards the end – “when you die, I won’t take in the milk! I won’t shovel the snow!” – had echoes of “when I am an old woman I shall wear purple” about it. Love is both gut wrenchingly important, yet also utterly mundane.
Go on a date night – but not just at the start of your relationship. Take time with your loved one, of many decades standing, to see this play and remind yourself why the bickering and arguments happen. They happen because love is when we show up, and when we make sure to stick around.
