Winner of The Women's Prize 2020, Reasons You Should(n't) Love Me brings a challenging and creative approach to a one-woman show. Born with spina bifida, Juno speaks her mind and takes us through the highs and lows of her life so far, reminiscing and narrating as she learns to embrace them all. The highlight of the play is the humour and characterisation of Juno – she is witty, sarcastic and strong, allowing a great opportunity for the actor playing her to win over the audience.
Disabled actors are always having to watch performances involving able-bodied actors, and yet, narratives for disabled people are categorised as niche. But with 14.1 million disabled people living in the UK, there is no excuse for underrepresentation anymore. It is stated on the character page that Juno should be played by a disabled actor, and this feels necessary. Advocating diversity in the arts is overdue, as Amy Trigg states: ‘If you can't find a disabled actress, then look a bit harder’. Hitting hard with flair and farce thanks to Trigg's writing, finding this play text could be the difference between a disabled actress finally feeling welcomed into the industry or not; this text shines a bright beacon of light for a change.
However, the structure of this text may be its biggest downfall. Some scenes lack any progression for the characters or stakes, for example: ‘The Wedding’ has no clear intention. Juno's story about her prom is mildly entertaining before we jump back to her commentating about Kev being sick at his wedding. It seems like the puzzle pieces don't quite fit together at times. The last scene, ‘The End of the Prequel’ feels rushed, with all ends of previously mentioned stories being tied within a few sentences. It seems we are being told, instead of shown, which causes a distancing and lack of attachment to the characters by the end, despite Trigg working hard to connect the audience to the characters throughout.
However, if an ambitious and courageous actor is willing to take on the challenging role of Juno, this text could uplift and illuminate a performance space.