OBSERVER: Love In Translation
In a short season, Peridot Theatre’s Love In Translation was quite a mixed bag. Exploring courtship rituals across the generations, it was mildly entertaining but did not give any great insights into the human condition.
Indeed, it was somewhat troubling in its depiction of female characters.
The evening consisted of three American one-act plays, all involving a man and a woman set in different contexts and eras. Sometimes the couple knew each other but more often they were complete strangers. Connections of sorts were made then broken, only to be remade again.
The first piece, Love Letters by A.R. Gurney, was a rehearsed reading and took the form of two old friends reading from their correspondences over several decades.
It was well directed by Steve McPhail with fine performances from Robyn Kelly (as Melissa) and Paul Sedgwick (Andy). It was a well-crafted script which, however, felt dated and somewhat partial in its depiction of Melissa compared to Paul.
After intermission came two shorter plays. Ferris Wheel by Mary Miller saw two lonely fearful strangers seated together on a country Ferris wheel.
Directed by Robyn Kelly it was performed by Liam Mitchinson (as John) and Donna Cleverley (Dorie).
The direction was nicely paced and Mitchinson and Cleverley had a good rapport. Unfortunately the characterisation of Dorie was quite patronising and infantile.
The final work of the evening was Mary Just Broke Up With This Guy by Garth Wingfield.
A much faster-paced show, it was directed by Kate Lawson and performed by Tanya Wade (Mary) and Callum Beale (Mary’s date(s)).
The speed dating scenario is potentially a rich source of humour. Wade and Beale made the best of it but tired old jokes and shallow characterisations meant that the play felt nothing more than a thin sketch.
So while mildly entertaining, Love In Translation was also taxing, mainly due to the problematic portrayals of the three female characters.
Review by Peter Murphy