Lovesong: Frantic Assembly

Frantic Assembly's Lovesong is the storytelling of an elderly couple's life, with their young experiences intertwined within the story. The play began with elderly Bill (Sam Cox), talking about his philosophical theory of brushing his teeth for preservation and how important his routine is. This set a comforting tone to the play, as his younger self (Edward Bennet) entered. The younger selves were oblivious to the elderly couples' presence on stage, with memories of their younger selves woven within their relationship.

The wardrobe acted as another ‘dimension,’ which the actors could enter and exit through, creating a sense of excitement and curiosity. The set on stage was simplistic yet abstract, with leaves surrounding the stage floor, bringing an earthy and vivacious feel to the house. The couple mention the peach trees numerous times – the peaches appear to be fresh and ripe at the beginning when young Maggie (Lianne Rowe) excitedly says, ‘We have peaches!’, but the peaches are again mentioned later in the play by elderly Bill when he states that they are becoming soft and eaten by wasps.

Sian Phillips particularly stood out as the elderly Maggie. Near the denouement, she clutches her high-heel shoes like a newborn baby, treasuring and nurturing them. The heels for me symbolised her younger self, and how she wasn't ready to let go. However, when she tries these heels on, she realises through her struggle to take a few steps in them, that her only option is acceptance.

The use of fluidity, lifts and physical contact unfolded the couple's relationship, emitting passion, desire and even anger. My favourite element of physical theatre was when all four characters emerged from the hidden entrance in the bed, all engaging with each other's movements. This was the first time all four characters had interacted, making it very emotional and passionate. Without the aspect of physical theatre, the production wouldn't have come to life in quite the way it did.

The music incorporated within the production was remarkable, transforming the play into a rhythmic and electrifying experience. Utilising a combination of electronic music and physical theatre brought the performance to life, giving me goosebumps as I watched the actors move along to the music. The EarPods that Bill and Maggie used became a symbol of their relationship, and music became a sign of hope and prosperity for them.

Lovesong, filmed at the Lyric Hammersmith, can be accessed through Digital Theatre with 24-hour access costing £7. Director Scott Graham talks about the production at www.franticassembly.co.uk/frantic-digital/lovesong