Review: Strategic Love Play – Soho Theatre

It is both a daunting and thrilling event to attend the live production of a text one has read, loved, re-read and re-re-re-devoured. Thankfully in this particular instance, Miriam Battye’s Strategic Love Play is brought to its gritty, twisted, infinitely human life by the brilliant acting symbiosis of Letty Thomas and Archie Backhouse and by Katie Posner’s artful direction. 

The larger space at the Soho Theatre, with is plunging rows of seats, lends itself nicely to the minimal but effective set. The turning platform on which stands a lone round table, two chairs and an overhead lamp is used as a lonely isle in the imagined sea of pub patrons around our protagonists.

A sky of hanging lamps creates an even greater atmosphere whilst the set, sound and lighting designs are arranged reminiscent of National Theatre level productions in their slick and satisfying reach.

Sitting in the two seats are Jenny and Adam, or “D” as his dating app profile says. They are uncomfortable, don’t have much to say and she is dissecting the why and hows of their being there in this odd world that exists between a swipe right and happy ever after. Backhouse’s fluid energy delivering the most awkward lines is exhilarating and Thomas’s resistance in the face of potential rejection or connection transports us into the room with them. Amidst the audience as the play unfolds, people laugh and utter uncensored noises of assent or cringe. It is the kind of theatre that reminds actors, makers and audience members of why we leave our uber-connected world for an hour to go and share in the jubilant energy of others.

The hour and half-long play is just long enough that we don’t regret having to leave, whilst staying on the sweet side of potential exhaustion by such a powerful play. Posner’s direction and use of set is so clever that we are left at times to wonder how much time really has passed between awkward giggles, dagger-like quips and pints of lager. It creates an eerie quality that allows actors to truly create their space. The sound design, which sometimes evokes a darker truth than some of the banalities exchanged between thecharacters reflects the layers of this brilliant piece of new writing.

There is not much else to say than to wish luck and the best success to a vibrant creative team and to urge our dear readers to invade the main house at the Soho Theatre NOW.

Strategic Love Play is a Paines Plough, Soho Theatre and Belgrade Theatre production, in association with Landmark Theatres 

All Images: Pamela Raith Photography

For tickets and more information on Strategic Love Play, click here.