Evaluation: Lengthy Songs In London, Barons Courtroom Theatre

Evaluation: Lengthy Songs In London, Barons Courtroom Theatre

I’ve to confess, coming into a pub in West Kensington the place the indicators to the basement theatre trailed the indicators for the boys’s bathrooms, I felt apprehensive. Love Songs In London, nonetheless, caught me off guard in probably the most pleasant manner.

Love Songs In London is a one girl efficiency (Lauren Ava Thomas) which utilises the medium of music to discover the all-too-relatable world of a twenty-something singleton attempting to outlive the London relationship scene. Alongside the course of Amelia Glydon, it is a actually heart-warming and hilarious present.

The whole hour consists of witty song-based storytelling which permits Thomas the area to showcase her musical means and impeccable comedian timing. Explicit highlights included the calling out for the ‘unhappy bitches’ who use Hinge (a relationship app) and continuing to dedicate a music to them, and a Britain’s-Acquired-Expertise-style phase the place she makes an attempt to seduce an viewers member with out getting ‘buzzed’ off stage. The songs are seamless, at instances uncomfortable, and at all times laugh-out-loud relatable. Mixed with Thomas’ means to get viewers participation flowing (albeit generally reluctantly), Love Songs In London actually is the definition of a great evening out.

Lighting is used successfully all through and serves its goal of holding the story flowing constantly. Most notably, Lauren sometimes requests for the home lights to be introduced up in an effort to permit her to select her subsequent love affair/sufferer. This harsh backwards and forwards with the lighting makes the efficiency all of the extra unpredictable and, subsequently, serves in holding the viewers engaged; if not barely on edge!

The one drawbacks include the area used; versus the efficiency itself. Barons Courtroom Theatre is, primarily, a basement studio consisting of a darkish (nearly cave-like) room and small, semi circle viewers surrounding the efficiency area. The small scale of this venue permits for a sure degree of intimacy and assists in making a heat and cozy ambiance amongst the viewers. Nonetheless, the massive pillars dotted all through the room do, at instances, block components of the viewers’s view. It additionally must be mentioned that the set design did little to reinforce the efficiency. Once more, area is proscribed at this venue, nonetheless, it will be good to see a extra inventive use of the area and set.

It’s necessary to notice that, though it is a comedy total, there are some actually candy moments of real sentiment dotted amongst the red-faced hilarity. A selected shoutout has to go to the story of Pete and Jean; an enthralling music which follows the love story of Thomas’ very personal mother and father. That is such a stunning, and shocking, strategy to spherical off the efficiency and leaves the viewers with a heat feeling; of which remained with me for the whole journey again dwelling.

Written by: Lauren Ava Thomas
Directed by: Amelia Glydon
Produced by: Burnt Orange Theatre

Love Songs In London performs at Barons Courtroom Theatre till 19 March. Additional data and bookings could be discovered right here.