Show: A Brief Conversation About The Inevitability Of Love
Event: Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Works
Location: Bombed Out Church, Liverpool
Date: Monday July 12 2021
Time: 19.30
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Age Rating: 12+
Performers: Thomas Galashan & Sam Walton
Production Company: Bill Elms Associates
Writer: Ian Salmon
Director: Mikee Dickinson
This is our theatre review for A Brief Conversation About The Inevitability Of Love at Liverpool‘s Bombed Out Church. Now, this is the opening show of Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Works 2021. So, let’s take a look at A Brief Conversation About The Inevitability Of Love!
A Brief Conversation About The Inevitability Of Love
Synopsis
We meet a man and a woman, whose names I won’t disclose due to the nature of the plot. So, we learn that “he” and “she” are discussing their previous relationships. Now, for him, it was a marriage to a woman by the name of Suzanne. Meanwhile, for “her”, a marriage to Philip (not “Phil”) was once her dream scenario, only for it to eventually become a nightmare. In “his” case, the marriage would simply not work out, though his role in the relationship deteriorating is debatable. As for “her”, Philip was an attractive man, but unfortunately, other women would feel the same way towards him. However, while both are open about their marriages, they attempt to guard finer details by asking one another similar questions.
Now, this happens by way of the man and woman sharing a conversation and demonstrating their personality traits. For him, it seems to be about demonstrating a mixture of confidence, humour and honesty. For her, though, there is a vibe of wanting to know more while trying to reveal as little as she can. Along the way, though, we also learn how these two characters would meet now and again, albeit unintentionally. And though their interactions would be chance and somewhat forgettable, one or the other would always remember them somehow. However, we as the audience wonder what their connection truly is. And we also wonder how they reach the stage where they’re talking about their histories at the present moment. The answer to these questions may come as a bit of a surprise!
Analysis
Thomas Galashan and Sam Walton play their roles as “he” and “she” very well. And both are relatable characters, though it’s easy to have contrasting viewpoints of their personalities. So, some attendees may sympathise with him as a happy-go-lucky type of guy that happens to be somewhat unlucky in love. Yet others may view him as a “Jack the lad” whose own flaws explain why things would previously go sour. As for her, I can imagine a fair few sharing her pain about Philip’s adultery. But just as many may consider her protective nature as off-putting, hence Philip treating her in that manner. This can be a hard balance to achieve, but Thomas and Sam pull it off seamlessly. And that allows for different interpretations of the same show, which is a major positive.
As for the story, it is intriguing to not only hear of their backgrounds but also how they would share experiences. And again, because they’re first-person accounts, we can mentally play out their interactions with alternating perspectives. Is he as warm and trustworthy as he suggests? Furthermore, is she as shy and innocent as she suggests? Additionally, it’s fun for us to put the pieces together about their meet-ups, because they aren’t necessarily chronological. But where does their history start, and where does it end? Even the characters themselves struggle to work out the former, and we, the audience, gasp as we receive our answer about the latter. But his words prove prophetic: “sometimes you have to tell the whole story to get to the point.”
Summary
A Brief Conversation About The Inevitability Of Love is a strong start to Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Works 2021. Indeed, it offers a simple backdrop with a minimal setting, but then it tells a story that has complex twists. And they all dovetail nicely to ensure a conclusion that answers all questions that we may have. Because this is a brand new show, this performance serves as its first public outing. And if it gets to tour the theatres in the future, I would definitely suggest that you check this show out yourself!
Notes
Target Audience: 12+
Content: Infrequent Minor Sex References
Recommendation?: Yes
Overall Rating: 8.5/10 – Excellent
A Brief Conversation About The Inevitability Of Love Further Links
Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Works 2021 continues at the Bombed Out Church until Sunday July 18 2021. So, to purchase tickets, please click here.
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